PAL expands codeshare with China Airlines

Philippine Airlines (PAL) expands its international network to include Manila-Kaohsiung and Cebu-Taipei services via a codeshare partnership with China Airlines, the flag carrier announced Monday, July 24. The codeshare arrangement allows PAL and China Airlines to offer greater connectivity and convenience to their customers, with each carrier promoting the development of the air travel market between the Philippines and Taiwan. Now, PAL offers four times weekly codeshared services between Manila and Kaohsiung. PR 3300/CI 712 departs from Manila at 10:00 AM and arrives in Kaohsiung at 11:55 AM local time every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. PR 3301/CI 711 departs Kaohsiung at 07:15 AM and arrives in Manila at 09:00 AM, also every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. Both legs are operated by China Airlines using Boeing 737-800 aircraft. In addition, PAL offers five times weekly Cebu to Taipei and Taipei to Cebu codeshared services. PR 3302/CI 706 departs from Cebu at 12:05 PM every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, and arrives at Taipei Taoyuan Airport at 3:00 PM. PR 3303/CI 705 departs from Taipei at 8:10 AM and arrives at Mactan-Cebu International Airport at 11:05 AM, also every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Both legs are operated by China Airlines using Airbus A321neo aircraft. "PAL is keen to serve the growing demand for travel stimulated by the continuing visa-free arrangement for Filipino travel to Taiwan," said Bud Britanico, Vice President for Sales. “Cebu is a great destination for both business and leisure, while Kaohsiung is a dynamic port city and economic hub that also houses many Overseas Filipino Workers " he noted. "We are glad to expand our network, even as we continue to offer regular twice daily flights between Manila and Taipei.” "China Airlines has been focusing on the Filipino market as part of our ongoing efforts to expand the Southeast Asia network in recent years," according to Jeremy Chang, Vice President of Corporate Development Office, China Airlines. The Taipei-Cebu route flown by the new A321neo aircraft was introduced at the end of 2022 alongside the existing Taipei-Manila and Kaohsiung-Manila services to expand the travel network between Taiwan and the Philippines. "PAL is a long-standing China Airlines partner and the latest expansion to the code-sharing arrangement will not only strengthen collaboration between the two airlines but also promote business and tourism between the two regions," he underscored. The newly offered services build on an existing PAL/China Airlines codeshare partnership on the Manila-Taipei and Taipei-Manila routes, where PAL operates 14 weekly flights and China Airlines likewise operates 14 weekly flights. Taiwan remains visa-free for Filipinos, with the aim of capturing at least 320,000 Filipino tourists annually. The Philippine Department of Tourism is also targeting to welcome 200,000 Taiwanese visitors per year to the Philippines. The codeshare agreement also allows China Airlines to access PAL’s domestic network by placing its “CI” code on select PAL-operated flights from Manila to Cebu, Davao and Iloilo, as well as from Cebu to Davao and Iloilo, for the carriage of passengers traveling between Taiwan and these Philippine cities. PAL and China Airlines have been codeshare partners since 2015.