Philippine Airlines (PAL) is the flag carrier of the Philippines.[10] Headquartered at the PNB Financial Center in Pasay, the airline was founded in 1941 and is the oldest operating commercial airline in Asia.[11][12][13][note 2]

Philippine Airlines launched its first flight on March 15, 1941, using a Beechcraft Model 18 aircraft from Manila to Baguio. After a brief suspension during World War II, the airline resumed operations in 1946 and became the first Asian airline to cross the Pacific, with a flight from Manila to Oakland, California. PAL was designated as the country's flag carrier in the late 1940s and expanded rapidly in the decades that followed. In 1966, PAL was privatized when then-chairman Benigno Toda Jr. acquired a majority stake. However, in 1977, the airline was re-nationalized when the Government Service Insurance System obtained the majority of its shares. The airline underwent privatization again in 1992, when it was purchased by a group led by Antonio Cojuangco. Subsequent ownership changes occurred, with businessman Lucio Tan eventually becoming the majority stockholder in the mid-1990s.[14]

Over the years, PAL has undergone periods of expansion and restructuring, responding to economic downturns, fuel price volatility, and regional competition. The airline has implemented multiple modernization programs focused on fleet renewal, route expansion, and service upgrades. In February 2018, Skytrax recognized Philippine Airlines as a four-star airline.[15]

The airline's main flight operations are based at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Metro Manila. It primarily operates international routes across Asia, North America, and Oceania, along with select domestic sectors—including Cebu, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, and General Santos—while the majority of domestic flights are operated by its subsidiary, PAL Express.[16][17]

History
Main article: History of Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines (PAL) was established on February 26, 1941, as Philippine Air Lines, following the acquisition of its operational franchise from the Philippine Aerial Taxi Company (PATCO) by a group of businessmen led by Andrés Soriano and Ramón J. Fernández.[3]

Once among Asia's largest carriers, PAL was significantly impacted by the 1997 Asian financial crisis. Facing substantial financial losses, the airline undertook major restructuring measures: terminating services to Europe and the Middle East, suspending most domestic routes except those operating from Manila, reducing its fleet size, and laying off thousands of employees. In September 1998, PAL ceased operations temporarily and entered receivership. Operations resumed in October 1998, and over time, the airline reinstated many of its domestic and international routes. PAL successfully exited receivership in 2007 after implementing a rehabilitation plan approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission.[18] Subsequently, the airline has undertaken several management restructurings aimed at reestablishing its position as a leading carrier in the Asia-Pacific region.[19]