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Friday, March 29, 2024

PAL expects strong Auckland operations

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Auckland, New Zealand—Philippine Airlines is optimistic on its four-times-weekly flights from Manila to this city on increasing tourist flow between the two countries. 

“The Philippines is really an emerging destination. That is why it’s exciting for us in promoting it. We have done several road shows already and the response of the agency is very positive,” PAL area manager in New Zealand Ma. Divinagracia Virata said. 

Virata said passenger volume between Manila and New Zealand had grown 31 percent since PAL made the maiden flight in December 2015. 

“We are targeting a load factor of 80 percent by end of the year,” Virata said. 

PAL currently has a load factor of 70 percent to 75 percent for the Manila to Auckland service via Cairns, Australia. 

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“We are doing our best to be competitive. The competition is quite stiff,” Virata said. 

Virata said 44,000 Filipinos were living in Auckland, a number that was expected to double by 2020. 

Immigration New Zealand earlier streamlined the visitors visa applications for members of PAL’s Mabuhay Miles. 

Under ANZ’s visitor visa application streamlining project, visa applications of members of PAL Mabuhay Miles Elite, Premiere Elite and Million Milers along with their partners and dependents traveling are processed within five days. 

Mabuhay Miles Card holders can present their Elite card and field-up allocation form to INZ visa application centers in Manila and Cebu. Applications through INZ website are also accepted. 

The shortened visa application process for travel to New Zealand will be effective until May 31, 2019.

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