MANILA, Philippines—Philippine Airlines (PAL) seeks to launch nonstop flights between Manila and Tel Aviv by October 2021, betting on eased travel restrictions as COVID-19 vaccination in the Philippines ramps up.
PAL is seeking the revival of the route, which it operated until the 1950s, for tourism purposes and to serve the roughly 28,000 Filipinos based in Israel.
“The Philippine flag carrier hopes to serve growing demand for air linkages between the Philippines and the Holy Land to serve tourists and OFWs [overseas Filipino workers] alike,” PAL said in a statement on Friday (April 30).
Crucial to the plan was the use of Saudi Arabia’s airspace, which would cut travel time a…
Keep on reading: PAL eyes return of Manila-Tel Aviv flights by October