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Home » Philippine Airlines » Which Alliance Will Philippine Airlines Join?
Philippine Airlines

Which Alliance Will Philippine Airlines Join?

Matthew Klint Posted onSeptember 19, 2018November 14, 2023 17 Comments

a white airplane flying in the sky

Philippine Airlines will join an alliance…the question if not if, but when. In fact, “It’s a process that has already started.”

Blogger Alex Macheras sat down with Philippine Airlines President Jaime Bautista. Bautista not only shared that his airline would like to join an alliance, but claimed that PAL is “now in the process” of joining one specific alliance. Which one remains tight-lipped, for now. But we can attempt to put together the pieces of the puzzle.

Star Alliance

Macheras notes that Star Alliance is an unlikely match. That alliance already has several key partners in the region including Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways.  Furthermore, CEO Jeffrey Goh was even even more explicit:

There is no immediate need to be focusing on recruiting a member from the Philippines. I would not say that we see Philippine Airlines as a prospective new member. Clearly, if you just think about the network of Philippine Airlines today, they have overlapping services with some of our members.

That hasn’t stopped other carriers from being added, but I simply do not see the strategic value for Star Alliance. Apparently the Star Alliance leader also does not.

Oneworld

Oneworld has Malaysia Airlines in SE Asia as well as the Cathay Pacific and JAL network, but Philippine Airlines would bolster the network and potentially benefit American Airlines. With large a population of Filipino-Americans in the USA, codeshare domestic flights with AA could connect more people to Manila, benefiting both airlines. Philippine Airlines would potentially also have access to connecting passengers from Europe on British Airways and Iberia and from the Middle East on Qatar.

SkyTeam

That leaves SkyTeam, which I think is the strongest contender. While oneworld makes more sense practically, realistically the bonds are already strong between PAL and many SkyTeam carriers. Philippine Airlines already partners with:

  • China Airlines
  • Garuda Indonesia
  • Vietnam Airlines
  • Xiamen Airlines

Like oneworld, the value for PAL will be in connections in Europe and North America. Delta and Air France/KLM could easily make this possible.

CONCLUSION

Honestly, none of the alliances need PAL. The route map is almost entirely duplicative through various partners. But perhaps the old adage “keep your friends close and enemies closer” plays out here. Regional “frenemies” may be a better alternative to letting Philippine Airlines get snapped up by another alliance. My prediction is SkyTeam.

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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17 Comments

  1. Beltran Reply
    September 19, 2018 at 6:18 pm

    They could go to Skyteam but even though China Airlines, Garuda, Vietnam and Xiamen have interline agreements that doesn’t mean much. They would need Delta which, unless Delta gets an agreement on its terms will categorize PR as a category 4 like they did KE until they finally came to an agreement. CI, GA, VN &FM are all government airlines. PR would need DL, AF, & KL which are the real power brokers in Skyteam. I just don’t see much benefit to having PR in Skyteam.

    AA doesn’t even code share with PR and I don’t think they need to. They can send them to NRT or HND to their joint venture partner.
    I’m just not seeing any value that PR brings to any alliance.

    • AaronJohn Orendain Reply
      January 25, 2019 at 3:23 pm

      Philippine Airlines Join SkyTeam is Perfect for Good Alliance.

    • Dave Reply
      February 9, 2020 at 5:59 am

      We’re now in 2020.
      This article was written in 2018.
      Has PR joined an alliance yet ?

      • lil Reply
        March 19, 2020 at 2:36 am

        Just saw in recent news, AA has filed permission to codeshare with PR.

  2. chub Reply
    September 19, 2018 at 6:26 pm

    Originally, I thought that Philippine will join Star Alliance since they have a close partnership with ANA. But at the same time, Star Alliance doesn’t need them and (unrelated to an extent, but) ANA also has a close partnership with Virgin Atlantic, which is owned 80% by three SkyTeam airlines.

    At this point, I’m wondering if alliances are becoming redundant. JAL codesharing with 49%-owned-by-Delta Aeromexico, Delta’s JV with both Virgins and Westjet. the ANA partnerships I mentioned above, Cathay codesharing with Air Canada and Lufthansa, and SQ using Alaska and Jetblue for US connections instead of United… the list goes on and on

  3. James Reply
    September 19, 2018 at 6:58 pm

    WOULD LOVE THAT. LAX-MNL redemptions with sky miles maybe?!?!

    • James Reply
      September 19, 2018 at 7:04 pm

      Also, PAL joining sky team was the speculation when they announced they wanted to have flights to AMS, CDG, and FCO, which were sky team hubs (still are but with Alitalias current situation)

  4. Juan R Reply
    September 19, 2018 at 7:32 pm

    I am not sure if the will be accepted by any alliance as they have little to offer. They will or should do a partnership or codeshare will AA or Dli think is better when the non stop MNL JFK flights start, That will only be to allow easy touting thru US. That non stop flight is being marked in the NY metro Filipino market so will not really need to link with anyone really. If they have survived in this era without one as long as they have do they really need.

  5. Explorer Reply
    September 19, 2018 at 8:41 pm

    Maybe Alaska could pick them up?

    • Madam Milton Reply
      November 11, 2018 at 1:09 am

      This one i have to agree with Explorer. They can join forces/alliances.

  6. BlueMountain Reply
    September 19, 2018 at 11:37 pm

    Joining SkyTeam does not make sense at all considering Delta has flights to/from Manila.

    I think Oneworld is a more realistic partner.

    • idp5601 Reply
      September 21, 2018 at 12:12 pm

      BlueMountain – They’re not direct flights, though.

  7. Paolo Reply
    September 20, 2018 at 4:19 am

    No matter the alliance, the likelihood that they will join one, any one, will be a further nail in the Thai coffin. PAL would be well positioned to capture market share to/from North America and also the Kangaroo route.
    Thai is being painted into a corner ( largely through their own ineptitude) and the sharks are circling.
    I used to fly PAL a lot, particularly when I was poor and they were cheap, and have a fondness for them. I would be back onboard in a trice in the event they sign up for an alliance ( so too for Oman Air).

  8. AaronJohn Orendain Reply
    September 22, 2018 at 5:43 pm

    Maybe Philippine Airlines will Join SkyTeam Is Good Alliance. owned by Delta, AirFrance-KLM

  9. AP Reply
    September 27, 2018 at 10:42 am

    is there room for a new alliance perhaps? Once Alaska combines with JetBlue (it’s gonna happen, look at the route maps, it is a natural fit), they are going to need an alliance to really compete with the big boys. Perhaps Iceland Air on the transatlantic side and PAL on the transpacific?

  10. AaronJohn Orendain Reply
    January 25, 2019 at 3:21 pm

    After China Southern Airlines as a SkyTeam was Already Withdrawn on End of the 2018, I’ll Might Philippine Airlines Will Join the SkyTeam Alliance, Because The Philippine Airlines Needs the SkyTeam as a Member in The Future, Because SkyTeam is the Good Perfect Alliance as a Perfect SkyTeam Member.

  11. reese Reply
    April 18, 2021 at 10:56 pm

    Hopefully Philippine Airlines joins ONEWORLD and codeshares with AA and Alaska for West Coast flights to Manila and the rest of SE Asia. PAL also has flights to ORD and JFK that would benefit from the AA codeshare.

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