The Philippine Airlines PR 659’s pilots and cabin crew just before their maiden flight to Manila at the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah on Wednesday.

Filipinos in the western region on Thursday welcomed the resumption of Philippine Airlines (PAL) flights between Manila and Jeddah after an 18-year absence.

“Welcome back to Jeddah. We missed you for a long time,” said John Pamintuan, an employee of Saudi Bin Ladin and a photographer, said after PAL’s maiden flights between Jeddah and Manila was first announced on social media.

The Philippine flag carrier opened its first flight at the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah on Wednesday, two days after its maiden flight between Kuwait and Manila.

“It’s nice to see the Philippine flag carrier flying over Jeddah. Long live and godspeed!” said Dhong Decena on Facebook.

Rany P. Constantino of Middle East Development Co. described PAL’s complete return to the Middle East “restores hope” to OFWs who he said had been demoralized by the flag carrier’s log absence. “We are even more energized to know that this time PAL is better organized under new management,” he said.

Ronnie Espiritu said he is expecting “better service, especially food.”

“I hope it will not be always late. Let’s make it a better one!” chimed in Editha Valderosa Cetro.

Ricky Solomon L. Pacquing, PAL country manager for Saudi Arabia, said the reopening of the Manila-Jeddah route completes the airline’s presence in the Kingdom. Two years ago, the airline resumed flights to Riyadh and Dammam.

The Kuwait and Jeddah routes also brings to seven the flag carrier’s total number of Middle East destinations, the others being Abu Dhabi, Doha and Dubai.

PAL stopped its flights to the Middle East in the late 90s when the company was crippled by a labor dispute. It has gradually crawled back to life after a successful restructuring and refleeting program under new management.

In a formal launch on Wednesday night at Radisson Blu Hotel in Jeddah, Pacquing said the return of PAL to Jeddah is an “important milestone” because of the city’s “unique role as the gateway to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.”

Ahmad Fawzi Kanoo, Western Region area manager for Kanoo Group of Companies (Kanoo Travel & Tours is a partner of PAL), said in his speech that PAL’s return to the Kingdom will be mutually beneficial to Saudi Arabia and the Philippines.

Kanoo said PAL’s presence would be a big boost to Philippine tourism by promoting world-class destinations like Boracay to Saudis.

And with an estimated 300,000 Filipinos in Jeddah and the rest of the region plus the tens of thousands of Filipino Muslim pilgrims annually, the flag carrier expects a “captive market.”

In a statement, PAL President and CEO Jaime J. Bautista said PAL’s new A330-300 will be the fleet for the new Mideast routes.

PR 658 departs Manila at 10:30 p.m. every Tuesday and Saturday and arrives in Jeddah the following day at 8:45 a.m. local time; PR 659 departs Jeddah at 2:15 p.m. local time every Wednesday and Sunday and arrives in Manila the following day at 8:20 a.m.

PR 668 departs Manila at 10 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and arrives in Kuwait the following day at 6:55 a.m. local time; PR669 departs Kuwait at 2:55 p.m. local time every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and arrives in Manila at 8:15 a.m. the following day.

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