Philippine Airlines (PAL) Reinstates Seasonal Nonstop Manila-Sapporo Service with Airbus A321neo Aircraft

Philippine Airlines (PAL), the flag carrier of the Philippines, has officially resumed its seasonal nonstop service between Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) and Sapporo's New Chitose Airport (CTS) in Japan. The flights commenced on November 24, 2025, and are scheduled to operate until March 27, 2026, marking a significant re-establishment of a key route within PAL's extensive Asian network.

This reinstated service operates three times weekly, with flight PR 406 departing Manila every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 6:30 a.m., arriving in Sapporo at 12:15 p.m. The return flight, PR 405, departs Sapporo at 1:15 p.m. and arrives back in Manila at 6:15 p.m. The strategic timing aims to cater to both inbound and outbound leisure and business travelers, optimizing connectivity between the two vibrant destinations.

PAL is deploying its modern 168-seater Airbus A321neo aircraft for this route. The configuration includes 12 seats in business class and 156 seats in economy class, offering passengers a comfortable travel experience complemented by extensive inflight entertainment options and Wi-Fi connectivity. This aircraft choice underscores PAL's commitment to providing contemporary amenities on its international services.

The resumption of the Manila-Sapporo route is poised to significantly boost tourism to Hokkaido, Japan's northern island renowned for its ski resorts, cultural festivals, and culinary scene. Concurrently, it opens new avenues for Japanese travelers to explore the Philippines' diverse cultural offerings and warm hospitality. This move further solidifies PAL's presence in the Japanese market, complementing its existing nonstop services to major cities like Osaka Kansai, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Tokyo Haneda, and Tokyo Narita, including direct flights from Cebu to Osaka Kansai and Tokyo Narita.