SEATTLE, USA – Leila Rosas, a Filipino-American business owner, has been running the Oriental Mart Filipino Restaurant in Seattle’s famous Pike Place Market for 55 years. Every February or March, Leila travels back to the Philippines for two weeks to discover new flavors and experiences from her homeland.
Now, for the first time in her 60 years of living in Seattle, Leila can take a direct flight home to Bulacan, Philippines, thanks to Philippine Airlines (PAL).
Many Filipinos living and working in Seattle, like Leila, are thrilled about this new route. PAL Vice President Salvador Britanico Jr. mentioned that this direct flight allows families to visit the Philippines after many years, especially during important holidays like Christmas.
The new flights started on October 2, and PAL now flies from Manila to Seattle three times a week—on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. This route is PAL’s sixth destination in the United States, making it the airline with the largest network in the country.
Why Seattle?
Captain Stanley Ng, the President of PAL, explained that they chose Seattle because it has a large Filipino community and is one of the biggest markets without direct flights. Washington state has about 180,000 Filipinos, making it a perfect place for PAL to connect.
Aside from the Filipino community, Seattle is also home to big companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Boeing. Many Filipino workers are employed in these businesses and may travel to the Philippines for family visits or work.
Benefits of Direct Flights
With a direct flight, passengers can save time and energy. Instead of taking a long trip with layovers, they can go straight from Seattle to Manila in about 14 hours, which is much faster than the usual 20 hours with other airlines. This means less chance of feeling tired from traveling.
Passengers also enjoy friendly service from PAL’s flight attendants, making their journey more pleasant.
Competing with Other Airlines
PAL aims to compete with one-stop airlines from Taiwan and South Korea. Britanico emphasized that the convenience of a direct flight, which avoids extra stops and potential baggage issues, will attract more travelers.
Connecting to More Destinations
Seattle is a major city in the Pacific Northwest, which also includes parts of Canada. Britanico pointed out that PAL has good partnerships with other airlines, making it easy for passengers to connect to various destinations in the U.S. and Canada after arriving in Seattle.
Boosting Tourism
The new route will help strengthen connections between Seattle and Southeast Asia. Britanico hopes this will not only bring in more tourists to the Philippines but also attract investors interested in opportunities in the country.
PAL is excited about introducing the Philippines to the world through food, culture, and beautiful beaches, making it a great destination for everyone, not just the Filipino community.
