Fil-Ams celebrate PAL nonstop flights between Seattle, Manila

Consul General Neil Ferrer (2nd from left) and PAL President and COO Stanley Ng (3rd from left), joined by Soleil Tropicales and Stephanie Hermoso. Photo from Philippine Department of Tourism–San Francisco

SEATTLE – The Filipino American community in Seattle has welcomed the launch of Philippine Airlines’ (PAL’s) new direct flight between Seattle and Manila.

Led by Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Ferrer, members of the Fil-Am community joined officials of PAL, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and the Port of Seattle in celebrating the inaugural direct flight from Seattle to Manila last week.

“The new direct flight between Manila and Seattle will undoubtedly foster not only people-to-people relations between the Philippines and Washington state, but it will also present more opportunities to expand trade, investments, tourism and other engagements between the Philippines and the US Pacific Northwest,” Ferrer said in his speech during the celebration hosted by PAL and SEA at Chihuly Garden and Glass.

Washington is home to one of the nation’s largest Filipino communities.

PAL offers three weekly flights – Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The 14-hour flights from Seattle to Manila leave at 11:40 p.m., and the 11.5-hour return flights leave at 10:40 p.m. Manila time.

“As a vital gateway to Asia, this destination is especially meaningful for many Filipino Americans in the Northwest,” Port of Seattle Commissioner Sam Cho said in a news release.

“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.”

PAL has become the first carrier to link the Philippines and the US Pacific Northwest with nonstop flights between Manila and Seattle.

Seattle is PAL’s sixth destination in the US and the eighth in North America. PAL now operates the largest network of nonstop flights between the Philippines and the US, serving Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Seattle, Honolulu and Guam

Joining Ferrer at the event were Philippine Department of Tourism – San Francisco Representative Soleil Tropicales and  Tourism Assistant Stephanie Marie Emilia Hermoso.