It is the second airline to bring wide-body service to Bohol’s main air gateway.
On Tuesday, October 27, the Bohol-Panglao International Airport (BPIA) welcomed Philippine Airlines (PAL) first Airbus A330 landing.
At 6:25 a.m. flight PR1771, which flew in from Manila with 150 passengers on-board, was welcomed with a water cannon salute—a traditional aviation honor for milestone flights.
The aircraft, under code PR1772, departed for Manila with 190 passengers later that same day.
The plane model offers significantly more capacity per flight than the narrow-body aircraft that typically serve the route.
“Having both of the country’s major airlines fly wide-body aircraft into Bohol shows how far BPIA has come,” said Aldwin Uy, General Manager of Aboitiz InfraCapital Bohol Airport Corporation (ABAC).
“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.”
The arrival makes the Philippine flag carrier the second airline to bring wide-body service to BPIA. It comes after ABAC upgraded the airport’s firefighting and rescue capability in close coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
Prior to this, low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific also deployed its A330neo to the Manila-Panglao route in November 2025.
The added capacity arrives also comes as Bohol gears up for the year-end travel season and is also in line with the Provincial Government’s Visit Bohol 2027 campaign.
Bohol Governor Erico “Aris” Aumentado shared, “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.”
Bohol-Panglao International Airport is the main airport serving the island province of Bohol. It holds the distinction of being the Philippines’ first “eco-airport,” designed with sustainable and energy-efficient technologies, including extensive use of natural lighting and ventilation.
