Photo credt: PAL

Big news for travelers: Philippine Airlines (PAL) recently took its newest U.S. route to the skies, launching direct flights from Manila to Seattle, Washington. This move not only expands PAL’s reach across the U.S., but also offers a convenient gateway for Filipinos and travelers who want to explore the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

The airline’s brand-new service is the only nonstop connection between the Philippines and the U.S. Pacific Northwest, with three weekly flights. Imagine, you can now hop on a flight from Manila and be in Seattle in just 12 hours—no layovers needed.

Why Seattle? Well, it’s PAL’s sixth U.S. destination, adding to its network of San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Guam, and Honolulu, making it the airline’s most extensive transpacific coverage in its 78-year history. The Emerald City also serves as an ideal jump-off point to more U.S. cities. Thanks to PAL’s interline partnership with Alaska Airlines, passengers can connect seamlessly to places like Chicago, Las Vegas, Washington D.C., Houston, Portland, and Anchorage.

But it’s not just about travel convenience. As PAL President and Chief Operating Officer Captain Stanley K. Ng emphasized, “through these nonstop Manila-Seattle-Manila flights, Philippine Airlines is proud to take the latest big investment in its long-term strategy of building stronger connections to the vast United States travel market.”

For Captain Ng, Seattle isn’t just another dot on the map—it’s a new opportunity to drive more tourism and economic growth between the Philippines and the U.S. “An exciting destination, Seattle, the Emerald City, is also our newest gateway to the rest of America. Our aim is to stimulate value-added tourism and healthy business activity between the Philippines and not just Washington State, but beyond, to Alaska, Oregon, Nevada, and the U.S. Midwest and Sunbelt regions.”

Philippine Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista also expressed optimism for the route, saying it “solidifies PAL’s foothold on the non-stop trans-Pacific market, the staple route of Filipinos eager to spend the holidays in the Philippines.”

And there couldn’t be a better time to kick things off. “October is a particularly auspicious time for this launch, as that is the month that we celebrate Filipino American History Month in the United States—to recognize the history, culture, and contributions of Filipino Americans,” said US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson. With a large Filipino and Filipino American community in Washington State, the new route is sure to strengthen ties even further.

Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez highlighted the broader impact of the new route: “The introduction of this new route to Seattle, Washington is a beautiful convergence of two dynamic cities—rich in culture, diversity, and natural beauty. This connection will undoubtedly open new doors for trade, tourism, and cultural exchange.”

Local officials in Seattle are also excited about the new connection. Port of Seattle Commissioner Sam Cho stated, “As a vital gateway to Asia, this destination is especially meaningful for many Filipino Americans in the Northwest. It not only makes it easier for families to connect and reunite but also opens up wonderful opportunities to strengthen our business and tourism ties with the Philippines.”

Ready to Fly?

PAL’s new service operates every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday using the spacious Boeing 777-300ER. The flight schedule is as follows:

Manila to Seattle

• Flight Number: PR 124

• Days of Operation: Wednesday, Friday, Sunday

• Departure: 10:40 PM

• Arrival: 7:15 PM

Seattle to Manila

• Flight Number: PR 125

•Days of Operation: Wednesday, Friday, Sunday

• Departure: 11:40 PM

• Arrival: 4:45 AM (+2 days)

Seattle now stands as the closest U.S. mainland airport to the Philippines, providing a more convenient connection for business and leisure travelers alike. Plus, passengers can easily transfer via Manila to PAL’s domestic and regional international network, including destinations like Cebu, Davao, Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Kuala Lumpur.