Lucio Tan-led flag carrier Philippine Airlines Inc. (PAL) and Alaska Airlines Inc. have jointly applied for expanded reciprocal codeshare services covering flights between the Philippines, the United States (US), and beyond, in a move aimed at deepening connectivity to Hawaii and other US destinations.

In a joint application dated April 23 and submitted to the US Department of Transportation (DOT), which was seen by Manila Bulletin, the two carriers sought regulatory approvals to broaden their commercial partnership, allowing them to market and sell seats on each other’s flights across a wider network.

The application follows the signing of a codeshare agreement last April 22 between PAL and Seattle-based Alaska Airlines, documents showed.

The proposed arrangement would allow Alaska Airlines to place its “AS” code on PAL-operated flights between the Philippines and the US, as well as on routes beyond the Philippines. In turn, PAL would be permitted to place its “PR” code on Alaska-operated domestic US flights, enabling passengers to book seamless itineraries under a single ticket.

The deal would let travelers book PAL flights from Manila to US gateways and connect onward to multiple US cities—such as Dallas-Fort Worth in Texas, which is specifically identified in the filing as a beyond-gateway destination accessible via Alaska Airlines’ network—while Alaska customers could access Philippine destinations through PAL’s network.

The joint applicants are also seeking exemptions to operate these codeshare services to the fullest extent allowed under the 1995 US-Philippines Air Transport Agreement, which governs air traffic rights between the two countries. The agreement permits Philippine carriers to serve additional US destinations beyond their designated gateways, provided these are operated via stopovers or through codeshare arrangements.

The filing emphasized that the proposed partnership is consistent with bilateral aviation agreements, including provisions under the 1980 Air Service Agreement and its subsequent protocols.

The application also reflects changes in the US aviation landscape following Alaska Air Group’s 2024 acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines Inc.’s parent firm, which resulted in certain operational rights and network arrangements being moved to Alaska Airlines last year. Hawaiian Airlines had initially been authorized to use the PR code for code-sharing purposes.

PAL currently holds multiple exemptions allowing it to serve US destinations beyond its primary gateways like Seattle, including Hilo, Kahului, Kona, and Lihue in Hawaii, as well as Atlanta, Denver, Houston, Las Vegas, Miami, New Orleans, Orlando, and Washington, DC.

The expanded codeshare is expected to enhance access to Hawaii routes, a key leisure market, by integrating Alaska Airlines’ strong domestic US network with PAL’s transpacific services.

The annexes outline proposed codeshare routes linking PAL’s transpacific services from Manila to mainland US gateways, connecting into Alaska Airlines’ domestic and Hawaii network, including Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco, and Honolulu, as well as select Northeast Asian points such as Japan and South Korea.

Philippine domestic points include Laoag City in Ilocos Norte province feeding into Manila as the primary hub for onward international connections. Cebu is a secondary hub for Northern Asian routes, including Tokyo, Osaka, and Seoul.

The carriers said they intend to begin marketing the expanded codeshare services as soon as all necessary government approvals are secured.

The move builds on PAL’s recent push to expand its US footprint through partnerships. Earlier this month, Manila Bulletin reported that PAL added more US routes, including Chicago and Dallas-Fort Worth, through a deal with American Airlines Inc.

Meanwhile, a regulatory dispute involving Delta Air Lines Inc. over PAL’s proposed Manila–Chicago service was resolved after Delta withdrew its opposition, allowing the US DOT to grant the carrier exemption authority for the new route. The approval, issued this month, paves the way for PAL’s inaugural nonstop flights to Chicago as a US gateway, scheduled to begin on Nov. 9.