By Joy Marino
PAL-LAX Sales Manager Jemma Saranillo with her Team
LOS ANGELES − Philippine Airlines is expanding its United States service with the launching of its non-stop flight from Los Angeles to Cebu, an executive of the Philippines’ national flag carrier announced.
The launch of the flights between Cebu and Los Angeles coincides with the airline’s 75th founding anniversary on March 15, said Jemma Saranillo, PAL Los Angeles Sales Manager during the Roadshow Presentation held at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles last Wednesday, February 3.
According to Ms. Saranillo, PAL will utilize its 254-seater Airbus A340 for the Cebu-Los Angeles flights. The Airbus A340 is equipped with a 36-lie flat business seats and 218 economy-class seats.
This new direct flight from Los Angeles to Cebu will provide travellers to either Visayas or Mindanao the convenience of having to travel without stopping in Manila. Cebu is a short stop to any point in the Visayas and Mindanao, as well as to Palawan.
No less than Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim endorsed Philippine Airlines. “PAL is the best carrier if you are travelling to the Philippines,” he said, citing the many advantages of taking PAL’s non-stop flights to the Philippines.
While Philippine Airlines expects strong traffic from Filipino travelers and balikbayans for the Los Angeles-Cebu flight, the Philippine Department of Tourism sees this development as a great opportunity to further promote Cebu as a tourist destination.
Rowena Montecillo, Director of DOT-Region 7, in power point presentation highlighted the many tour destinations and tourism products that are available in Cebu, including diving, nature tourism, sun and beach, cultural tourism, Sinulog festival, health and wellness tourism, shopping and leisure, and MICE events.
The Roadshow Presentation was jointly hosted by Philippine Airlines and the Philippine Department of Tourism and was supported by local tour operators and travel agencies from the Philippines who flew in to the US with PAL and DOT delegation.
The event in Los Angeles was the third leg in the four-city PAL-DOT Roadshow Presentation that includes Las Vegas, San Diego and San Francisco.
The Roadshow Presentation in Los Angeles was attended by travel agents and tour operators as well as members of the media.
Prizes were raffled off including the major prize of one PAL business class round trip ticket from Los Angeles to Manila to Cebu that comes with a 3 days/2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast at Shangri-la at the Fort, 4 days/3 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast for two at Shangri-la Mactan Resort & Spa, 3 days/2 nights at Panglao Island Nature Resort & Spa for two persons with Bohol countryside tour with lunch for 2 persons (courtesy of Travelite Travel & Tours).