PAL aggressively promoting direct flights to PH

Philippine Airlines marketing activation agent Paolo Garcia, right, gives the ceremonial round-trip ticket to Manila to United Filipino Organization officials, from left, Ernie Molina, Pete Reyes, and Malou Malasarte. (Kevin Calibo)

Philippine Airlines will be starting its direct flights from Saipan to Manila this June. They have been aggressively promoting the twice-a-week schedule to all CNMI residents not only to the Filipino community.

Having direct flights to Manila is not only welcome news for Filipino contract workers, but also for locals who regularly have their medical checkups in hospitals in the Philippine capital.

PAL marketing activation agent Paolo Garcia said they have been busy in trying to get the word out that the flight schedule would start on June 16. They gave away four round-trip tickets in last Sunday’s TFC event starring Kim Chiu and Xian Lim.

They again donated two tickets to the United Filipino Organization, which will be raffled off separately in the Queen of the Pacific transgender pageant on June 11 and the Pistang Pinoy Independence Day celebration the following day.

The $10 tickets for the fundraising pageant at the Royal Taga Hall of the Saipan World Resort will give you one raffle entry, while it will be $1 each in the Pistang Pinoy.

Garcia said they usually follow the sales team of the Manila office in terms of promoting inaugural flights. “They are the ones who advice what strategies to take like sponsoring events.”

Century Travel is PAL’s partner on Saipan while also tying up with local radio station KWAW.

Partnering with Filipino organizations, advertising in print and radio, and using social media are some of the things they have done so far to promote PAL’s Manila-Saipan and Saipan-Manila flights.

“Of course we also advertise on print and also getting involve in other community events. Our tie up with KWAW has a huge influence since most Filipinos listen to that radio station,” added Garcia.

He said that they are optimistic that the flights will be a boom and earn traction with all the things that they’ve been doing, especially since Century’s team on Saipan is well known on the island. “[Century Tours] can influence a lot of people.”

Garcia added that their next plan is to offer tour packages, particularly to locals who want to see more of the Philippines. “We’re also going to push for this. To attract the locals here to tour our country, see other places, and learn more of what our country offers. For sure they would enjoy it.”