ALL SYSTEMS SET FOR PHILIPPINE AIRLINES'
MANILA-PHNOM PENH DIRECT FLIGHT
The country's national flag carrier, Philippine Airlines (PAL), is all set to embark on its maiden flight to Cambodia with the launching of its Phnom Penh-Manila direct services starting on 02 April 2019.
PAL officials led by its President and Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Jaime Bautista, recently visited Cambodia for a series of activities and engagements to unveil the flag carrier's historic flight between the two capital cities.
In a well-attended press conference and networking dinner at the Raffles Hotel in Phnom Penh held on 05 March 2019, Mr. Bautista and PAL's top executives introduced PAL's upcoming five-times-a-week service between Manila and Phnom Penh to travel, business and media practitioners of Cambodia, as well as to the Filipino community.
Philippine Ambassador to Cambodia Christopher B. Montero cited the opening of direct air links between Manila and Phnom Penh as a historic milestone in the bilateral relations of the two countries. "This new route will not only intensify people-to-people exchanges between the Philippines and Cambodia, it will also facilitate the mobility of business people, and the flow of goods and services between our two capital cities," Ambassador Montero said.
PAL officials expressed hope that with its recent SKYTRAX certification as a 4-Star Global Airline and recognition as the World’s Most Improved Airline for 2019 by AirlineRatings.com, more and more Cambodian outbound tourists will be encouraged to visit Manila and enjoy the city’s major shopping and entertainment attractions, as well as connect to many of the Philippines’ top domestic destinations for beach holidays or eco-tourism adventures.
"PAL also has the most extensive networks and most convenient connection for travelers flying from Cambodia to the United States, Canada, and Australia and vice-versa," Mr. Bautista noted. "Not only do we have one of the youngest fleets in Asia, we also have the caring and nurturing brand of Filipino service that sets us apart from other carriers," he added.
During their visit, Mr. Bautista and his team paid a courtesy call on H.E. Dr. Thong Khon, Minister of Tourism of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and held a meeting with top officials of the country's State Secretariat for Civil Aviation (SSCA). On the other hand, H.E. Dr. Mao Havannall, Minister in Charge of the SSCA, personally handed over to Mr. Bautista the landing permit for PAL's inaugural Manila-Phnom Penh flight on 01 April 2019.
"I am highly confident that with the opening of direct flights between our two capital cities, Filipinos and Khmers will interact more with each other, learn more from each other, and grow closer to each other, hand-in-hand with our other ASEAN brothers and sisters in pursuit of our collective effort to build a caring, sharing and connected ASEAN community," Ambassador Montero concluded. END
