After visa policy relaxed
By Tyrone Jasper C. Piad @TyronePiad
Philippine Airlines (PAL) says the easing of visa requirements for Filipinos going to Canada can boost plane ticket sales for the long-haul flights. PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna, in an interview with the Inquirer, said that the “ease and convenience of travel that this new policy brings is a welcome development.”
Filipinos who held a Canadian visa in the last 10 years or those who currently have a US non-immigrant visa can visit Canada without a visa.
“This will further boost travel between the Philippines and Canada,” she added.
Currently, PAL operates the Manila-Toronto route twice a week and services daily flights between Manila and Vancouver. Operator PAL Holdings Inc. reported that its net income attributable to equity holders of the parent company grew by more than four times to P4.65 billion in the first quarter from P1.08 billion in the same period a year ago.
The bottom line was lifted by passenger revenues, which surged by 119 percent to P37.62 billion in the first quarter. It serviced 3.4 million passengers in the first three months, showing 156.2-percent growth from the same period last year.
During an annual stockholders’ meeting last month, the parent company welcomed Lucio Tan III as its president, replacing his grandfather, taipan Lucio Tan. The older Tan is still serving as chair and CEO. The PAL operator has seen better performance since it had exited a voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy process in the United States after completing a restructuring plan that eliminated $2.1-billion worth of obligations in 2021.
