Philippine Airlines adds Chicago
Philippine Airlines put a new nonstop Manila–Chicago route on sale with service scheduled to begin November 9, 2026, operating three times weekly. The flight is planned as an ultra‑long‑haul connection covering roughly 8,132 miles and expands PAL’s U.S. network (onemileatatime.com).
Philippine Airlines has started selling nonstop flights between Manila and Chicago, with the first departure scheduled for November 9, 2026. (philippineairlines.com) The airline said it will fly the route three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, using an Airbus A350-900. AeroRoutes listed the timetable as a 4:40 p.m. departure from Manila arriving 4:55 p.m. in Chicago, with the return leaving O’Hare at 10:45 p.m. and reaching Manila at 5:25 a.m. two days later. (philippineairlines.com) (aeroroutes.com) Chicago becomes Philippine Airlines’ eighth destination in the United States and its territories, joining Honolulu, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, New York, Guam and Saipan. The carrier said Chicago gives it a direct entry point into the U.S. Midwest through O’Hare, one of the country’s biggest connecting hubs. (philippineairlines.com) The route arrives days after U.S. regulators cleared it. Manila Bulletin reported that the U.S. Department of Transportation granted Philippine Airlines one year of exemption authority on April 9 after Delta Air Lines withdrew an objection tied to reciprocal access to Manila. (mb.com.ph) That dispute centered on airport access, not whether Chicago passengers exist. Manila Bulletin said Delta had argued that U.S. airlines still face uncertainty getting slots at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, while the Philippine Civil Aeronautics Board said it would act favorably on applications for schedules and slot timing at Manila. (mb.com.ph) The Chicago launch also fits a broader push in Philippine Airlines’ U.S. network. GMA News reported the carrier is increasing Manila–Los Angeles service to 18 weekly flights from 14 starting June 1, and boosting Manila–Seattle to six weekly flights for June and July. (gmanetwork.com) This is also a return, not a first attempt. AeroRoutes said Philippine Airlines last served Chicago from November 1985 to April 1988 before dropping the city for nearly four decades. (aeroroutes.com) For now, the airline is using the new route to draw early bookings. Philippine Airlines said introductory roundtrip economy base fares start at $667 for tickets booked from April 16 through May 31, 2026. (philippineairlines.com)
