Review: PAL Express

In an apparent direct competition to SeAir and Asian Spirit, Philippine Airlines recently spun off a low budget subsidiary named PAL Express using small turbo-prop planes to service small islands already being served by the two earlier named airlines.

According to PAL Express Official website, the newest budget carrier on the block operates "nine turbo-propeller aircraft – three Bombardier Q300s and six Bombardier Q400s – manufactured by Bombardier Aerospace of Canada."

Tutubi saw an actual airplane of PAL Express but wasn't fast enough to get his camera inside the camera bag before it disappered in sight and later obstructed by a Cebu Pacific A320. A picture of DH4 is available here while a DH3 picture can be found here or from PAL Express' official website.

DH4 is the code designator for the Bombardier Q400, a Dash 8 variant while DH3 is for Bombardier Q300. DH3 has 50 seating capacity while DH4 can seat 76 passengers. De Havilland Canada DHC-8 Dash 8-400

For Promotional fare (UPR) for PAL EXPRESS flights, the promos are posted on PAL Express' official website along with the following information:

"Baggage Allowance: 10 kilos

PAL Express tickets do not earn Miles.
Free baggage allowance for Mabuhay Miles Elite, Premier Elite and Million Miler members shall not be extended on PAL Express flights.
SportsPlus benefits shall not be extended on PAL Express flights."

No information yet on PAL Express Excess Baggage charge but probably the same PhP100.00/kilogram of excess luggage applies.


Manila to Busuanga, Palawan (the gateway to Coron): once a day
Manila to Calbayog, Samar once a day
Manila to Caticlan (Boracay) 8x a day
Manila to San Jose once a day
Manila to Surigao once a day
Manila to Virac, Catanduanes once a day
Manila to Ormoc City, Leyte Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday
Cebu to Bacolod, Negros: twice a day
Cebu to Butuan, Agusan, Caraga: once a day
Cebu to Caticlan, Boracay: once a day
Cebu to Cagayan de Oro (CDO): once a day
Cebu to Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte: MWF 3x a week
Cebu to Gen. Santos: once a day
Cebu to Ozamiz: once a day
Cebu to Puerto Princesa, Palawan: once a day
Cebu to Tacloban, Leyte: once a day
Cebu to Zamboanga: Daily, once a day

For the airports used by PAL Express flights, refer to the airport list here

For updated PAL Express Flight Schedules and destinations, click here.

Contact Email: webmgr@pal.com.ph; corpcomm@pal.com.ph
PAL Express Hotline can't be located but you may try calling these telephone numbers: +633.2556.1890; 777-4800 loc 5401 or fax +63.2.556.1892

Review and Comments: Tutubi has yet to actually experience flying via PAL Express, but similar to airlines using turbo-props, expect yourself to be weighed together with your carry-on luggage in order to balance the aircraft in flight. This is also done by Cebu Pacific in their ATR aircraft, Asian Spirit and SeAir. Expect also gut-wrenching experience particularly in "bumpy" rides on windy days and usual gales and air pockets. Note this experience is worse in smaller planes of SeAir and Asian Spirit. Information on actual ticket prices, taxes, surcharges and hidden charges will be posted here once available.