PAL braces for Holy Week rush; 16 flights grounded

The number of Philippine Airlines passengers flying this Holy Week is expected to increase compared to last year’s passengers with the airline maintaining its regular domestic and international schedules — with minor adjustments in domestic flights on Good Friday and Black Saturday. Potentially affected passengers may want to note that 16 flights have been cancelled in observance of Good Friday and Black Saturday:

April 22:
• PR131/132 and PR157/158 (Manila-Bacolod-Manila)
• PR849/850 and PR855/856 (Manila-Cebu-Manila)
• PR185/186 and PR281/282 (Manila-Cagayan de Oro-Manila)
• PR187/188 (Manila-Cotabato-Manila)
• PR821/822 (Manila-Davao-Manila)
• PR139/140 and PR143/144 (Manila-Iloilo-Manila)
• PR393/394 (Manila-Tacloban-Manila) and
• PR123/124 (Manila-Zamboanga-Manila).

April 23:
• PR843/844 (Manila-Cebu-Manila)
• PR181/182 (Manila-Cagayan de Oro-Manila) and
• PR139/140 and PR143/144 (Manila-Iloilo, vice-versa).

Employees who are required to report for duty between April 21 (Maundy Thursday) and April 24 (Easter Sunday) will receive an incentive pay. The company is giving an additional P700 per day — on top of the daily rate, holiday pay and overtime pay — to those required to work during the holidays. This includes pilots, flight attendants, ground staff, administrative personnel and management officials. The flag carrier’s international passengers are expected to exceed 90,000 — a 5-percent increase year-on-year. Meanwhile, total domestic passengers are expected to reach about 100,000. Last year, the number of domestic passengers flown totaled 97,838. The positive passenger numbers appear to indicate continuing confidence in the flag carrier, PAL said in a statement. — AY/VS, GMA News