Press Release No. 05-2016
Date: 09 February 2016
Philippine Airlines resumes flights at King Abdulaziz
International Airport (KAIA) in Jeddah
31 January 2016 -The Philippine’s official flag carrier, Philippine Airlines (PAL), resumed its services to Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, after an 18-year absence, as part of its ongoing Middle East expansion.
Flight PR 658, PAL’s new Airbus A330-300, departed Manila at 10:30 p.m. on 19 January 2016 with its 414 seats filled with overseas Filipino workers going to Dubai and the Western region, Saudi Arabia and other foreign passengers who went to the Philippines for business and leisure. Piloted by Captain Rubito J. Samedra, along with 13 crew members, the airline landed at King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) in Jeddah via Dubai at 8:58 a.m. on 20 January 2016.
A warm reception at the airport to welcome the return to Jeddah of the airline was tendered by Kanoo Travel, its General Sales Agent (GSA) in the Western and Eastern regions. Present during the event were PAL senior executives, officials of the General Authority of Civil Aviation of Saudi Arabia and some invited Filipino community leaders in Jeddah. Vice Consul Rodney Jonas L. Sumague, who represented the Philippine Consulate General, cut the ceremonial ribbon and cake together with the VIP guests. During the formal inaugural reception held later in the evening at the Raddison Blu Hotel in Jeddah, Vice Consul Sumague thanked the KAIA management for the warm welcome accorded to PAL in its return and resumption of flights, and expressed hope that the airline will continue successfully. He noted that PAL’s return to Jeddah is expected to help strengthen bilateral relations between the Philippines and Saudi Arabia by facilitating tourism and trade.
Ricky Solomon L. Pacquing, PAL country manager for Saudi Arabia, said the reopening of the Manila-Jeddah route completes the airline’s presence in the Kingdom. Two years ago, the airline resumed flights to Riyadh and Dammam. The Kuwait and Jeddah routes also bring to seven the flag carrier's total number of Middle East destinations, the others being Abu Dhabi, Doha and Dubai.
PR 658 departs Jeddah at 2:15 p.m. local time every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and arrives in Manila the following day at 8:20 a.m. END
