The tails of Philippine Airlines jets are shown in this file photo. The flag carrier said on Jan. 21, 2020 that it would revive its Cebu-Los Angeles route. ABS-CBN News/file
MANILA - Philippine Airlines said Tuesday it would revive its nonstop Cebu-Los Angeles service in May this year, as it seeks to build the southern center's credentials as an aviation hub.
The Cebu-Los Angeles flights will depart three times weekly for L.A. from the new Terminal 2 of the Mactan Cebu International Airport, utilizing the 370-seater Boeing 777-300ER, which is PAL's largest aircraft, the airline said.
"Our upcoming service from Cebu to LA is a vivid demonstration of our commitment to build up Mactan Cebu as a global aviation hub, a dynamic gateway, not only to domestic points, but to major international destinations," said PAL president and COO Gilbert Santa Maria.
Starting May 2, PR 152 will depart Cebu at 9 p.m. every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and arrive LAX at 7:30 p.m. on the same days, PAL said.
For the return trip to Cebu from Los Angeles, PR 153 will leave L.A. at 11 p.m. every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, touching down 2 days later in Cebu at 5 a.m. after a 14-hour nonstop flight.
The flag carrier offered nonstop Cebu-Los Angeles flights from March 2016 up to May 2017.
The revival of the nonstop service will allow residents of various cities in the Visayas and Mindanao to enjoy more convenient connections via Cebu, it said.
American tourists can also use Cebu's hub transit facilities for connecting flights to Siargao, Camiguin, Davao, Boracay, Coron, Bacolod, Iloilo and other holiday destinations in the Visayas and Mindanao, PAL said.
To mark the revival of the route, PAL said it would offer promo fares for the Cebu-Los Angeles for as low as $420 from Jan. 20 to 24 for travel between July 1 to Dec. 10 this year.
PAL, aviation, Cebu, Los Angeles, Visayas, Mindanao, Mactan, Gilbert Santa Maria, Boeing 777-300ER