Philippine Airlines (PAL) President Richard Nuttall has underscored the importance of the local market for the carrier as he highlighted a series of luxury enhancements.

This year marks 60 years since PAL first took off between the Philippines and Australia with the launch of its Sydney route. It’s an important milestone not only because of the ongoing importance of the route, Nuttall told LATTE, but also because when it first launched in 1965, it earned the airline the kudos of becoming the first airline from Southeast Asia to fly to Australia.

He described the service as a “vital bridge” connecting Australia with the Philippines – through business, leisure, culture and family ties. “Through the decades, PAL has been serving this important market with a broad network of routes to several key Australian cities – Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth,” he said, adding that PAL currently operates the most flights on four routes from Australia.

Between mid-December 2025 and mid-January 2026, PAL will double its Manila-Perth route from three to six weekly services. At the same time, flights from Manila to Melbourne will increase from five per week to a daily service.

To support this, PAL will upgrade select Manila-Brisbane services to its tri-class Airbus A330 widebody aircraft, in place of the Airbus A321neo. Perth flights will continue to be operated by the Airbus A321neo, while Melbourne will be served by the larger A330-300.

As demand grows – particularly among premium travellers – PAL is investing heavily in elevating the long-haul experience from Australian ports. The carrier now offers “full flat beds in Business Class and dedicated Premium Economy seating,” alongside enhanced Filipino-fusion dining tailored to Australian tastes. With the introduction of the Airbus A330 on select services, capacity is increasing with 18 Business Class seats and a new Premium Economy cabin offering 24 seats.

But the biggest transformation will arrive with the upcoming Airbus A350-1000 fleet. “We have nine 350-1000 Airbus aircraft arriving starting at the end of this year, Nuttall explained. “These are the ultimate in ultra long-haul aircraft and will come with state-of-the-art cabins, seating, in-flight entertainment and Wi-Fi.

“Each A350-1000 can accommodate 382 passengers in a tri-class cabin configuration with distinct cabins allotted for Business Class, Premium Economy, and Economy Class travellers. Our new Business Class seats will feature fully lie-flat beds, direct aisle access, upgraded personal storage, and our first in fleet individual privacy doors ensuring an experience of pure luxury and relaxation on every journey.”

Operational reliability underpins this premium focus, with significantly improved Net Promoter Scores, on-time performance rankings and an APEX Four Star rating strengthening PAL’s regional standing.

The airline’s digital transformation also supports luxury travel advisors, according to Nuttall who highlighted the airline’s adoption of IATA’s New Distribution Capability (NDC) as great news for trade and travellers alike. “NDC enables PAL to offer richer content, personalised offers, and faster servicing – ensuring a smarter, more dynamic, and efficient booking experience,” he said.

On the ground, the premium experience continues through enhancements to PAL’s lounges, with an upgraded international Mabuhay Lounge at NAIA Terminal 1. “PAL also continues to work closely with its lounge partners in Australia—including The House in Sydney, Aspire Lounge in Perth, Marhaba Lounge in Melbourne, and Plaza Premium Lounge in Brisbane—to consistently deliver a high-quality airport experience for all travellers,” Nuttall added.

Finally, high-spend travellers will see growing benefits through its Mabuhay Miles loyalty program. Nuttall said. “ We are strengthening partnerships with luxury hotels like Shangri-La and Swiss-Belhotel, premium car rentals like Sixt and Hertz, and preparing a major loyalty partnership in Australia,” he said. “We are also constantly exploring new partners in the region to create more opportunities and value for our high-spend members.”