note
National airline of Philippines was formed as a replacement for PATCO Philippine Air Transport Co. (Philippine Aerial Taxi Co.) to provide interisland air service of its island nation. Andres Soriano, Spanish consul and well connected businessman in Manila, was instrumental in the PATCO takeover. Only few months later, Japanese invasion of the Philippines force new airline to shut down and no operations were conducted until after the liberation in 1946. Airline resumed operations with war surplus Douglas DC-3s and DC-4 aircraft. In May 1948 charters for US Military to Oakland in California commenced utilizing Douglas DC-6 aircraft. Its rapid rise and quick absorption of any rival enterprise like Far Eastern Air Transport or Commercial Air Lines suggest powerful interest backing its activities.
In May 1957 PAL received its first turboprop aircraft - a Vickers Viscount. In 1965 government sells its interest in airline to Benigno Toda.
In April 1966 first BAC 1-11 joined the fleet and began modernization of PALs short haul fleet - namely Fokker F-27s and Hawker Siddeley 748s.
Airline's first jet was a Boeing 707 leased from Pan Am in 1962 followed by Douglas DC-8 leased from KLM the same year. PAL's first wide-body was Douglas DC-10 leased in July 1974. In 1977 the Philippines rulling family Marcos took full control of the airline through GSIS (Government Servis Insurance System).
First Boeing 747 joined the fleet in 1979 followed the same year in December by Airbus A300 introduced on on Manila - Singapore route.
In 1992 PAL was offered for privatization. Notoriously corrupt and inefficient with huge foreign debt PAL was purchased by AB Consortium controlled by most powerful Philippine families - the Sorianos and Cojuangco. The same families founded company in 1941! This privatization did not go well and there was second privatization in 1995 when PR Holdings became majority owner of PAL.
In 1995 massive reorganization of PAL started. PAL announced fleet replacement order of Airbus A340s, 330s and 320s with deliveries starting in June 1997. During Asian financial crisis of 1997-1998, PAL posted its worse loss in history. Together with labor disputes culminating in its pilots striking in June 1998 PAL had to file for bankruptcy protection. PAL had to stop operating for almost a month in September 1998.
In 2000 PAL was able to make a profit again. In July same year, PAL outsources it maintenance to Lufthansa Technik Philippines Ltd.
In May 2008 PAL announced formation of low cost subsidiary PAL Express using brand new Bombardier Dash-8 aircraft. Mar 2013 Airphilexpress fleet transferred to PAL Express
PAL's network includes dense domestic coverage, Guam, Japan, South Korea, China, Singapore, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh, Sydney, Melbourne, Jakarta, Dubai, Doha, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Kuala Lumpur and San Francisco, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Honolulu and Las Vegas.
founded - demised (age)
February 25 1941 - present (84years)
headquarters
PAL Bldg. 1, Legaspi Street, Manila
web
base airports
related operators
current /stored fleet (83)
