Wednesday, 18 June 2025
Airlines

PAL restores Beijing flights

Flag carrier returns to Chinese capital amid gradual market recovery

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A Philippine Airlines Airbus A321-231(SL), with tail number RP-C9901, captured in Singapore. (Photo: vic_206 via Flickr)

Philippine Airlines (PAL) will reinstate its direct flights between Manila and Beijing Capital International Airport on March 30, 2025, following a suspension that took effect after October 22, 2024.

The route, which was temporarily halted due to slower-than-expected demand recovery in the China market, will resume with three weekly flights using a mix of Airbus A321neo and Airbus A321ceo aircraft, accommodating between 168 and 199 passengers per flight.

“We are honored to serve the capital city of the People’s Republic of China, the diplomatic heart of the world’s second largest economy, as our contribution to strengthening air links to the Chinese mainland,” said PAL President and Chief Operating Officer Capt. Stanley K. Ng.

The restoration of Beijing flights reinforces PAL’s position as the Philippine carrier with the most extensive mainland China network, complementing its existing daily services to Shanghai (Pudong), Xiamen, and Quanzhou (Jinjiang) from Manila.

Operating as PR-358, the outbound flight will depart Manila at 6:55 a.m. every Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday, arriving in Beijing at 11:55 a.m. The return service, PR-359, will leave Beijing at 12:55 p.m., reaching Manila at 6:05 p.m. on the same days.

The route resumption provides travelers direct access to Beijing’s historical attractions, including the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, and the Temple of Heaven. Additionally, passengers can reach the industrial hub of Tianjin within an hour via high-speed rail connection.

For Chinese travelers, the renewed service offers convenient connections through Manila to PAL’s broader network, including popular Philippine destinations such as Cebu, Davao, Boracay, and Palawan, as well as international routes across Southeast Asia, Australia, and North America.

Written by
Dirk Andrei Salcedo

Dirk is the founder and editor-in-chief of Aviation Updates Philippines (AUP), a platform dedicated to providing the latest news and insights on the aviation industry in the Philippines. With a strong passion for aviation and a background in computer engineering, he manages all aspects of AUP, from website development to content curation.

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