PAL is official carrier for Pope Francis PH visit

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine Airlines Inc. (PAL) is the official carrier of Pope Francis for his Philippine visit from January 15 to 19.

PAL said in a statement on Wednesday, December 17, that it would “draw from experience in rolling out the red carpet” for the Pope.

PAL will fly Pope Francis to Tacloban on January 17, 2015 for whole-day activities, highlighted by a lunch with Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) survivors. (Check the Pope’s official itinerary here)

Citing security reasons, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines announced on December 14 that airlines are suspended from operating at the Tacloban airport on January 17.

PAL will also fly the Pope non-stop from Manila to Rome.

PAL also brought to Manila now Saint John Paul II during his 1981 and 1995 pastoral visits.

In 1981, PAL flew Pope John Paul II to 6 provincial stops within 3 days.

A special papal chamber was fitted in the DC-10 aircraft that flew Saint John Paul II to Guam and Haneda after his visit.

In his second visit in 1995, St. John Paul II was flown by PAL to Port Moresby after his 4-day visit to Manila. – Rappler.com