6 December 2013 - The Philippines’ official flag carrier, Philippine Airlines (PAL), made its non-stop maiden Manila-Dammam-Manila flight on December 03, when it resumed its operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  Philippine Ambassador Ezzedin Tago was at the airport with officials from the King Fahd International Airport (KFIA) Management to welcome PAL’s return to Dammam.

The twin-engine Airbus 330-300 with flight number PR 682 was operated by Captain Jose Joselito Herrera, assisted by Co-Pilot Capt. Joel Solis, Flight Officer Philimerif Binarao, and Second Officer Panilo Ilustre. With 216 passengers on board it touched down at 6:13 p.m. at KFIA in Dammam. The plane left for Manila, at 8:20 p.m., on flight number PR 683 with 367 passengers.

Ambassador Tago cut the ceremonial ribbon and cake together with KFIA Director General, Engineer Yousef K. Al-Dhahri.  

The Philippine Ambassador thanked KFIA management for the warm welcome accorded to PAL in its return and resumption of flights, and expressed hope that the airlines will continue successfully and eventually increase frequency of their flights to Riyadh, Dammam and also start flights to Jeddah.

According to Mr. Rajko Costa, Regional Manager-Middle East, PAL will operate the Manila-Damman-Manila route 3 times a week on Mondays, Tuesdays and Saturday.

Last Sunday, December 01 the Manila-Riyadh-Manila flight was successfully launched at the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. END