PAL Milestones

March 15, 1941
A month after being incorporated by a group of Filipino businessmen, Philippine Airlines takes to the skies with a twin-engine, five-seater Beech Model 18 aircraft from Nielsen airfield in Makati to Baguio.


February 14, 1946
PAL resumes post-World War II operations with services to 15 domestic points. The fleet consists of five Douglas DC-3s.

July 31, 1946
PAL becomes first Asian airline to cross the Pacific when it operates a chartered Douglas DC-4 on the first of several flights to ferry home initially 40 US servicemen. Each crossing took 41 hours with refuelling stops at Guam, Wake, Kwajelein and Honolulu.

November 14, 1946
An air treaty between the Philippines and the US is signed. The treaty limits the Philippines to one route across the Pacific which PAL is already operating, while American airlines are allowed two in the exchange of air services. It also gives fifth freedom rights to and beyond Manila while the Philippines is allowed only traffic to and from the US. The Philippines has little choice in the matter as it badly needs American aid for rehabilitation.

May 3, 1947
PAL starts a DC-4 service to Rome and Madrid, thus earning the distinction of being the first airline in Southeast Asia to fly to Europe. Each flight took two days with stops at Calcutta, Karachi and Cairo.

August 6, 1949
President Elpidio Quirino flies on one of PAL's DC-6s to the US, becoming the first Chief Executive of the Republic to travel by PAL across the Pacific.

June 1962
PAL enters the jet age with the introduction of DC-8 jetliners.

January 1974
PAL becomes a monopoly in domestic air travel after President Ferdinand Marcos (by virtue of his powers under Martial Law) orders the foreclosure of two other airlines – Filipinas Orient Airlines (FOA) and Air Manila Inc. (AMI) – due to the fuel crisis arising from a war in the Middle East. PAL is told to absorb the aircraft and staff of FOA and AMI.

October 20, 1977
The GSIS acquires 92% of PAL shares from majority PAL owner Benigno Toda, returning ownership and control back to the government. Capital increases from P25 million to P250 million.

July 14, 1979
PAL becomes first airline to be honored by Les Chaines de Rotisseurs, an ancient order of gourmets, with an award for its inflight cuisine.

August 1, 1979
A route to Beijing and Canton is introduced with the first of two B727-200s, making PAL the first Asian carrier to fly into China. On the same day, PAL began carrying Filipino contract workers to the Middle East with the introduction of services to Bahrain.

January 4, 1980
The first Boeing 747-200 – dubbed as Jumbo jet – starts flying across the Pacific. As PAL's new flagship aircraft, it features 16 full-flat bunk beds called Skybeds at the upper deck exclusive for First Class passengers.

September 18, 1992
PAL is granted a record-setting US$122-million financing package by a consortium of 18 local financial institutions for the purchase of 10 new long-range aircraft.

July 6, 1993
PAL's first female pilot, Ma. Aurora "Aimee" Carandang, flies for the first time as a full-fledged captain on a Fokker 50 flight from Manila to Baguio.

January 1995
Lucio C. Tan becomes Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

September 23, 1998
PAL suspends operations as the Asian financial crisis takes its toll, aggravated by industrial action by its unions. It pulls out of most routes and drastically reduces its fleet.

October 7, 1998
PAL resumes operations on a limited scale.

June 4, 1999
The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission approves a rehabilitation plan designed to return PAL to financial viability, following a capital infusion of US$200 million by chairman Dr. Lucio C. Tan and his associates.

March 2000
PAL reports a net income of Php44.2 million for fiscal year 1999-2000, its first year under rehabilitation. The result snaps six straight years of losses and produces one of the most dramatic turnarounds in Philippine business.

August 2007
PAL takes delivery of its eighth Airbus A320-family aircraft - taking it about halfway through an $840-million modernization program for its narrow-body fleet that began in September 2006. PAL orders up to 20 brand-new A320-family jets.

October 2007
PAL exits from receivership.

April 2009
Launch of "Real Deal" marks series of low-fare promos in response to cut-throat competition with low-cost carriers

August 2009
Record loss of $297.8 million is reported for Fiscal Year 2008-2009 due to high fuel prices and effects of the global recession.

November 2009
PAL takes delivery of the country’s first Boeing 777

December 2009
Cabin reconfiguration of all Airbus A320s to bi-class (Mabuhay and Fiesta) makes PAL the only Philippine carrier to offer Business Class service on all domestic flights.