-
Philippine Airlines deployed its first Airbus A330 to Bohol-Panglao International Airport on October 27, increasing Manila-Bohol passenger capacity for year-end travel
-
Flight PR1771 arrived from Manila at 6:25 a.m. with 150 passengers, while the return flight PR1772 carried 190 passengers to Manila, bringing the total number of travelers on the first rotation to 340
-
PAL became the second airline to operate wide-body aircraft into BPIA after Cebu Pacific
Philippine Airlines (PAL) deployed its first Airbus A330 to Bohol-Panglao International Airport (BPIA) on October 27, 2026, increasing passenger capacity on the Manila-Bohol route ahead of the year-end travel season.
The wide-body aircraft arrived from Manila at 6:25 a.m. on flight PR1771, carrying 150 passengers. It departed for Manila as flight PR1772 with 190 passengers, bringing the total number of travelers on its first rotation to 340.
The arrival was marked by a water cannon salute, a traditional aviation welcome for milestone flights.
The A330 provides significantly greater passenger capacity per flight than the narrow-body aircraft typically deployed on the route.
“Having both of the country’s major airlines fly wide-body aircraft into Bohol shows how far BPIA has come,” Aldwin Uy, general manager of Aboitiz InfraCapital Bohol Airport Corp. (ABAC), the airport’s private operator, said in a news release.
“Every additional seat into Bohol is an opportunity for our communities, from hotels and tour operators to the farmers, artisans and small enterprises that make the Bohol experience what it is,” Uy added.
PAL is the second airline to operate wide-body aircraft at BPIA after Cebu Pacific. The expansion was made possible by ABAC’s upgrades to the airport’s firefighting and rescue capabilities, undertaken in coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and the Bureau of Fire Protection.
READ: Bohol-Panglao Airport logs first wide-body landing with Airbus A330
The additional capacity comes as Bohol prepares for the peak year-end travel period and advances the provincial government’s Visit Bohol 2027 campaign. Public- and private-sector stakeholders aligned on the campaign during the Bohol Tourism Marketing Workshop earlier this month.
“We happily welcome Philippine Airlines’ very first Airbus A330 here at our Bohol-Panglao International Airport. This shows the confidence of our airlines in the potential of the Province of Bohol for more tourists and visitors. Thank you very much, Philippine Airlines,” said Bohol Governor Erico Aumentado.
Bohol, the country’s first UNESCO Global Geopark, is among the Philippines’ popular tourism destinations.
The addition of another wide-body operator is expected to help BPIA accommodate more visitors, provide airlines with greater flexibility during peak travel periods and support potential route development.
