PAL Express to mount add’l flights to Dubai

MANILA, Philippines - Low cost carrier PAL Express, a unit of national flag carrier Philippine Airlines Inc., is beefing up its long-haul flights to Dubai to service the growing demand of passengers particularly Filipinos working and living abroad.

In a statement, PAL said its budget airline unit would mount an additional flight every Saturday to Dubai starting March 30 using its mono-class Airbus A330-300.

The low cost carrier currently flies five times a week every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday to Dubai.

PAL Express launched direct flights to Dubai late last year.

The flights of the budget airline to Dubai would temporarily land at Al Maktoum International Airport starting May 1 to give way to the refurbishment of the runway of Dubai International Airport .

Al  Maktoum International Airport is a short  distance from the Marina residential   complex  and  less  than  45  minutes  away  from  the  Dubai International Airport and the emirate’s tourist and commercial districts of Bur  Dubai and Deira.

Arriving passengers at the Dubai International Airport could take the RTA bus to IBN  Battuta Metro Station that easily connects to Dubai ‘s Metro Rail System.

The flight schedule would slightly be adjusted with the transfer and leave Manila 1:05 p.m. and arrive at Al Maktoum International Airport 6:05 p.m. while the return flight would depart Dubai at 8:30 p.m. and arrives Manila 9:40 a.m. the next day.

Flight from Manila landing at Dubai International Airport would resume on July 20.

PAL Express has suspended several inter-island domestic flights this month as part of a restructuring program.