Philippine Airlines (PAL | PR) has officially inaugurated its direct air service linking Manila (MNL) and Chicago (ORD), setting a historic operational milestone as the first nonstop route connecting the Philippines directly to the American Midwest. Commencing operations on 09 November 2026, the service represents a major strategic enhancement to the flag carrier’s transpacific network. Operating three times weekly, this new long-haul connection provides passengers with a faster, seamless, and significantly more convenient journey by eliminating the need for intermediate layovers, thereby accelerating the transit of travelers, ideas, commerce, and cultural exchange between the two nations.
The launch of the nonstop route to Chicago establishes the carrier’s eighth destination across the United States and its territories, highlighting the airline’s ongoing dedication to expanding its presence across pivotal global markets. Recognized as a dynamic economic powerhouse, Chicago stands as a premier center for manufacturing, business, healthcare, technology, culture, and higher education. In addition to serving as a crucial commercial hub and home to one of the world’s most active aviation ecosystems, the city and its surrounding regions support a large, vibrant Filipino-American community. The direct link is positioned to serve this significant population base while simultaneously generating expansive opportunities for bilateral investment, trade, tourism, and business development.
The inaugural departure was hosted at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1, preceded by a formal ceremonial send-off. The gathering brought together key aviation stakeholders and government dignitaries, including PAL Holdings, Inc. President and Chief Operating Officer Lucio C. Tan III, PAL Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Atty. Carlos Luis Fernandez, and United States Ambassador to the Philippines, H.E. Amb. Lee Lipton. They were joined by Department of Tourism Secretary Bernardita “Dita” Angara-Mathay, Philippine Civil Aeronautics Board Deputy Executive Director Atty. Maria Elben S.L. Moro, New NAIA Infrastructure Corp. (NNIC) General Manager Angelito Alvarez, NNIC Executive Assistant to the President and CEO Cesar Chiong, alongside other aviation sector and public agency executives.
Speaking on the strategic value of the new transpacific service, PAL Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Atty. Carlos Luis Fernandez, said, “For Philippine Airlines, this is a strategic addition to our North American network. It expands our presence to the Midwest and provides more convenient access to one of the largest regional economies in the United States. We know that many Filipinos and Filipino-Americans in Chicago, Illinois, and neighboring states have long looked forward to a direct and more convenient connection to the Philippines. We are proud to finally make this possible.”
The maiden flight also marked an infrastructural development for Manila’s primary gateway, serving as the first scheduled departure utilizing NAIA Terminal 1’s newly commissioned remote bus gate facility. This integration showcases the early results of the broader airport modernization drive spearheaded by NNIC to upgrade passenger logistics and boarding efficiency. Passengers boarding the historic inaugural flight enjoyed dedicated send-off activities and received commemorative tokens at the gate. Through this latest long-haul expansion, Philippine Airlines reinforces its position as the country’s flagship international carrier, advancing air transport connectivity to meet rising passenger demand across North America.