The 15-hour-long non-stop flights are scheduled for winter 2018, when Boracay island should reopen to tourists
The tropical islands of the Philippines might welcome more visitors from the American East Coast as Philippine Airlines have scheduled new non-stop flights between Manila and John F. Kennedy Aiport in New York.
The flights will last around 15.5 hours which is not the longest route operating, but it will be the first ever non-stop route to connect the two metropolises.
The connection will be operated four times per week and its launch is scheduled for October 2018.
To get to the capital of Philippines, New Yorkers currently have to endure a stopover in Vancouver. Philippine Airlines already operates direct routes to Los Angeles, Vancouver and Toronto. New York will be the only non-stop connection for East Coasters.
The timing of the non-stop route launch corresponds with the scheduled reopening of the Boracay island that is currently closed for tourist under the order of Philippines’ president Rodrigo Duterte. He decided to temporarily ban travellers from the location so that it may undergo a major cleanup.
The tropical paradise with white sand beaches, that was named world’s best destination by Condé Nast readers in 2014, should be reopened in October 2018.
Numerous other popular holiday destinations are a short flight away from Manila. Palawan, for instance, the under-the-radar Calamian Islands, and the surfing paradise of Siargao.
The carrier has chosen its Boeing 777-300ER for the New York-Manila route. The aircraft is relatively comfortable and comes with 84 cm legroom in economy, almost 5 cm more than the industry’s standard. All seats have a touchscreen and on-demand entertainment.
