Aviation News -July 7, 2026 — Philippine Airlines (PAL) announced a major expansion of its international operations, increasing flight frequencies to Japan and adding seasonal capacity to Australia in preparation for the high-demand Christmas and New Year travel period.
Starting in late October 2026, PAL will strengthen its Japan network by increasing services on three key routes. Flights between Manila and Tokyo (Narita) will rise from 14 to 21 weekly services, while Manila–Osaka (Kansai) will also increase from 14 to 21 weekly flights. In addition, Manila–Sapporo (Chitose) services will expand from three to five weekly flights during the winter season.
The expanded schedule will bring Philippine Airlines’ Japan operations to as many as 87 weekly flights, reinforcing its position as the Philippine carrier with the largest network to Japan. PAL currently serves Tokyo (Narita and Haneda), Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, and Sapporo from Manila, as well as Narita and Osaka from Cebu, offering passengers greater flexibility and more convenient travel options.
“The winter season is one of the busiest periods for travel between the Philippines and Japan,” said Richard Nuttall, President of Philippine Airlines. “These additional flights provide greater flexibility for our customers while supporting tourism, business, cultural exchanges, and increased cargo capacity between the two countries.”
To meet strong year-end travel demand, PAL will also introduce additional flights to Australia on selected peak holiday dates. Seasonal services will be added on the Melbourne and Perth routes, while selected Sydney and Brisbane flights will be operated using larger aircraft to accommodate higher passenger volumes.
The airline said the additional Australia capacity is aimed at serving Filipino communities, holiday travelers, and passengers visiting friends and relatives during the Christmas and New Year season. The expanded services also complement PAL’s frequent flyer partnership with Qantas, providing customers with more opportunities to earn and redeem rewards across both airlines.
Philippine Airlines encouraged customers to book early to secure preferred travel dates and benefit from greater seat availability throughout the holiday travel period.
Founded in 1941, Philippine Airlines is the Philippines’ flag carrier and Asia’s first commercial airline. The airline operates scheduled services from its Manila and Cebu hubs to 29 domestic and 40 international destinations across Asia, North America, Australia, and the Middle East. PAL is an APEX Four Star™ airline and was recognized by Cirium for achieving the highest on-time performance among Asia-Pacific carriers in 2025.