Philippine Airlines Opens Nonstop Manila–Chicago Route With Three Weekly Flights

Chicago becomes PAL's eighth US and territories destination

Philippine Airlines has begun nonstop flights between Manila and Chicago O'Hare International Airport, opening a direct connection between the Philippines and the American Midwest. The service started on November 9, 2026, with three flights a week in each direction using Airbus A350-900 aircraft.

The route links Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila with Chicago on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Chicago becomes the airline's eighth destination across the United States and its territories, alongside Honolulu, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, New York, Guam and Saipan.

For passengers who previously changed planes in cities such as Taipei, Seoul or Hong Kong, the new service removes an airport connection. Sabre Market Intelligence counted about 118,200 passengers traveling between Chicago and the Philippines during the 12 months through June 2025, all on connecting itineraries.

PAL's April 16 announcement set November 9 as the opening date. The launch follows an earlier application seeking permission to begin service during the summer 2026 airline scheduling season.

What the flight schedule means for travelers

Flight PR132 leaves Manila at 16:40 and reaches Chicago at 16:55 on the same calendar day. Flight PR133 leaves Chicago at 22:45 and arrives in Manila at 05:25 two calendar days later. All times are local.

The calendar change is important when arranging hotels, airport pickups or onward flights. A Monday evening departure from Chicago arrives in Manila on Wednesday morning. In the other direction, passengers leave Manila on Monday afternoon and reach Chicago on Monday afternoon because of the difference between local clocks.

Three departures a week give travelers fewer date choices than a daily service. Anyone planning a short visit or coordinating a domestic connection will need to match the Monday, Wednesday and Friday operating pattern with the rest of the trip.

A new nonstop link, with an earlier Chicago history

PAL previously served Chicago between November 1985 and April 1988. The current launch therefore brings the city back into its network, while introducing a nonstop connection between Chicago and Manila. US Transportation Department records cited during the application process showed no previous scheduled nonstop service between the two airports.

The route developed through several stages, from a request for regulatory permission to the announced schedule and the start of flights:

• November 1985 to April 1988: PAL operated an earlier Chicago service.
• February 2026: PAL sought expedited US Transportation Department approval for a proposed Manila–Chicago route.
• April 16, 2026: PAL and Chicago officials announced a November 9 start and an introductory booking promotion.
• May 31, 2026: The announced promotional booking period ended.
• November 9, 2026: The new nonstop service began.

PAL initially sought approval for the summer 2026 traffic season, an airline scheduling period rather than a promise to start on a particular summer date. Its subsequent public announcement specified November 9.

Why the Midwest matters

Chicago gives PAL an arrival point in the Midwest alongside its existing gateways on the US West Coast, in New York and in Honolulu. Travelers whose destination is Chicago can now avoid changing aircraft on the way from Manila.

The 118,200 passengers recorded between Chicago and the Philippines equate to roughly 324 passenger journeys a day when divided across a year. That figure covers travel between Chicago and the Philippines, including destinations beyond Manila, and helps explain the airline's interest in the market.

PAL President Richard Nuttall described the route's purpose when the airline announced it in April:

Chicago is considered one of the premier hubs in the United States, and our entry into this vibrant city will provide direct connectivity to the Midwest," said PAL President Richard Nuttall. "At the same time, serving the Chicago–Manila corridor will create vital links to key regional destinations and major Philippine domestic markets through our Manila hub.

Manila is central to that plan. PAL can carry passengers directly between the two cities while also selling journeys that continue from Manila to other Philippine and regional destinations.

Two advertised fares cover different prices

PAL advertised introductory roundtrip Economy base fares starting at $667 for bookings made between April 16 and May 31, 2026. The Chicago Department of Aviation's route announcement listed introductory roundtrip Economy fares starting at $1,159, including taxes and charges, for the same booking period.

A base fare is the ticket's underlying price before applicable taxes and other charges. An all inclusive fare includes those additional amounts. The two announcements therefore describe different price measures, and a traveler budgeting for a trip needs the final amount payable.

The announcements did not explain whether both starting prices applied to identical departure markets, travel dates and booking conditions. The promotional booking window ended on May 31, so passengers booking after that date need to check the fare currently available for their itinerary.

PAL listed its website, mobile app, ticket offices, accredited travel agents and telephone hotline as booking channels. The published hotline is (+632) 8855-8888.

Connections through Manila and Chicago

Chicago officials named Palawan, Cebu, Boracay and Davao among the Philippine destinations passengers can reach through Manila. They also listed Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh City and Shanghai as regional connections.

For a traveler starting in the Midwest and heading to Cebu, for example, the new option is a nonstop flight to Manila followed by a domestic flight. Someone visiting Manila itself can complete the international journey without changing planes.

O'Hare also offers access to other US cities. PAL has described plans for full integration into the oneworld airline alliance in 2027, following a memorandum of understanding. American Airlines, a oneworld member, operates a hub at O'Hare. Alliance membership can involve coordinated connections and passenger benefits, with the specific arrangements dependent on implementation.

Chicago Department of Aviation Commissioner Michael McMurray welcomed the service on behalf of Mayor Brandon Johnson and the city's residents. He connected the route to the airport's wider economic role:

O'Hare International Airport continues to connect Chicago to key international markets, supporting economic growth, tourism, and cultural ties.

The aircraft also carries cargo

PAL and Chicago officials both identified the Airbus A350-900 as the aircraft for the new route. PAL's version has Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabins, giving passengers three cabin categories for the long journey.

The airline said the service includes onboard dining and a baggage allowance. Passengers still need to check the allowance attached to their particular ticket, along with any conditions governing changes or onward connections.

The Manila–Chicago route is approximately 8,121 miles, or 7,057 nautical miles. A nautical mile is a distance unit used in aviation and shipping. Earlier planning coverage anticipated the larger A350-1000, but the announced operating aircraft is the A350-900.

Cargo is another part of the route's business. Passenger aircraft can carry freight in the hold alongside checked luggage. PAL and Chicago officials said the flights would connect shipments from the Midwest with the airline's broader cargo network through Manila. Neither announcement specified the cargo capacity available on each flight or expected shipment volumes.

Chicago joins a wider Pacific expansion

PAL increased Manila–Los Angeles service from 14 to 18 weekly flights in June, adding four departures a week. That is an increase of about 29%. Seattle service rose from five to six weekly flights during June and July, an increase of 20% for that period.

Chicago adds a new destination rather than more departures to an existing one. Together, these changes give PAL more ways to carry passengers between the Philippines and the United States: greater frequency on established routes and a new nonstop gateway in the Midwest.

During the February planning stage, OAG Schedules Analyzer figures put PAL's North America–Philippines operation at about 31,640 seats in both directions each week, representing roughly 68.5% of nonstop capacity in that market. PAL operated 44 weekly roundtrips between Manila and North American destinations at that point. Those figures describe its network before the Chicago opening.

Destination counts depend on the geography being counted. Chicago is PAL's sixth destination in the 50 US states and its eighth when Guam and Saipan are included. The airline also serves Canada, including Vancouver and Toronto.

PAL's fleet plans support its wider expansion. It received its first Airbus A350-1000 in December 2025, and later expansion plans included more A350-1000s and Boeing 787-10s. For Chicago passengers, the aircraft specified for the new service remains the A350-900.

Key Points

• PAL began nonstop Manila–Chicago O'Hare flights on November 9, 2026.
• Flights operate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays using Airbus A350-900 aircraft.
• Chicago departures arrive in Manila two calendar days later; Manila departures arrive in Chicago on the same local calendar day.
• Chicago is PAL's eighth destination across the United States and its territories.
• The introductory promotion listed a $667 roundtrip Economy base fare and a $1,159 fare including taxes and charges. Its booking window ended May 31, 2026.
• The route gives Midwest travelers direct access to Manila and onward connections across the Philippines and parts of Asia.