PAL resumes KSA flights at promotional rates

Filipinos in the Kingdom have expressed enthusiasm over the promotional rate of SR1,580 offered by Philippine Airlines (PAL) for a two-way ticket for the resumption of its flights to the Kingdom starting in December.
“This is a good news for all Filipinos in the Kingdom who are planning to go home in December to be with their loved ones for the winter holidays,” said Florante M. Catanus, finance manager at a law firm in Alkhobar.
On Saturday, Arab News reported that Filipinos were expecting better and improved services when the Philippine flag carrier resumes its flight to and from the Kingdom.
A source said that PAL will have six flights weekly from Riyadh to Manila and four flights weekly from Jeddah. He added that it will also have flights from Dammam but did not mention how many it will be. He added that the flights will be monoclass only. It will also be deploying Airbus aircraft.
Catanus added that the promotional rate, which is below the SR3,500 two-way ticket rate for economy class during peak season such as summer and December, is helps him financially since he and his wife have three kids whose plane tickets won’t be provided by his company nor the school where his wife works.
In Riyadh, Eric P. Asi, an engineer-supervisor in an electrical company, also expressed happiness, saying that he’ll take advantage of the promotional rate since he and his better half have two kids whose plane tickets will also be shouldered by them.
“Maybe, PAL’s top management learned about the expectations of Filipinos in Saudi Arabia for better and improved services when it resumes flights to and from the Kingdom,” he said.
He also expressed hope that PAL continues to allow the 40-kilo accompanying baggage, or increase it if possible.
“Filipinos have the tendency to bring home electronics products and others items from the Kingdom, thinking that these are of high quality since they are from Saudi Arabia,” he added.
In Jeddah, Charles B. Tabbu, an information application development manager at a local firm, expressed a pleasant surprise at PAL’s move of offering a low price for a two-way ticket to the Philippines.
“It’s a good news indeed, to use an understatement. Many Filipinos will certainly snap up the cheap two-way ticket. Probably, it’s a gift from PAL for the winter holidays,” he said.
In Hail, Edmund D. Nieto, an engineer who works for the Saudi Telecom Company (STC), added that PAL will certainly win back its former Filipino passengers who have been flying other airlines since it stopped its flights in the Kingdom.
Offering a cheap two-way ticket is a move in the right direction, he said, but PAL has to improve its services like on-time arrival and departure time.