Riding strong travel demand to Palawan and following Cebu Pacific’s recent capacity buildup in the area, Philippine Airlines (PAL) is bringing back widebody service on its Manila–Puerto Princesa route.

The Lucio Tan-led airline said Friday it will start rolling out a 363-seat Airbus A330-300 on the route three times weekly — Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays — by 17 December.

Enhancing operational efficiency

“Utilizing our widebody fleet on flights to Puerto Princesa will enhance operational efficiency, improve overall customer satisfaction, and also provide Palawan residents more opportunities to explore the Philippines and the rest of the world,” Capt. Roland Narciso, PAL senior vice president for operations group, said.

“We have been working closely with airport authorities for a smooth transition to widebody operations in Puerto Princesa,” he added.

Major lift in passenger and cargo capacity

The aircraft features 18 Business Class, 33 Comfort Class, and 312 Economy seats, giving PAL a major lift in both passenger and cargo capacity.

According to PAL, a larger jet helps boost connectivity for passengers arriving from select international destinations via Manila, while an expanded cargo space opens more room for businesses shipping goods.

Fares start at P688 one way, giving travelers one of the lowest entry points to the gateway of Palawan.

PAL currently operates a fleet of Boeing, Airbus, and De Havilland aircraft to 31 domestic and 39 international destinations.