Key takeaways
- Philippine Airlines launched nonstop flights between Manila and Chicago
- The route operates three times a week using Airbus A350-900 aircraft
- Chicago is now the airline's eighth US destination
Philippine Airlines (PAL) launched its new nonstop service between Manila and Chicago on Nov. 9, 2026, offering travelers a direct connection between the Philippines and the American Midwest.
The new route connects Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport with Chicago O'Hare International Airport, and eliminates the need for connecting flights on a journey that can take close to 17 hours. Chicago is the airline's eighth destination across the United States and its territories.
Philippine Airlines Introduces Three Weekly Nonstop Flights
The Manila–Chicago route operates three times weekly, with flights scheduled every Monday, Wednesday and Friday aboard Airbus A350-900 aircraft. Flight PR132 departs Manila at 4:40 p.m. and arrives in Chicago at 4:55 p.m. local time, with a scheduled duration of approximately 14 hours and 15 minutes.
(Source: Simple Flying)
The return service, PR133, departs Chicago at 10:45 p.m. and arrives in Manila at 5:25 a.m. two calendar days later, taking approximately 16 hours and 40 minutes.
The service provides a more convenient alternative for passengers who previously relied on connecting flights through other major international airports.
New Chicago Route Strengthens Philippine Airlines' US Network
Chicago joins Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, New York, Honolulu, Guam and Saipan in Philippine Airlines' growing US network.
The expansion is important for the Filipino community in Chicago and surrounding Midwestern states, because it provides easier access to family, tourism and business destinations in the Philippines.
Philippine Airlines President Richard Nuttall described Chicago as an important aviation hub, and is excited about the opportunities the route creates for passengers traveling between the Midwest and destinations throughout Asia.
Beyond passenger travel, the airline expects the service to strengthen cargo connectivity between the Philippines and the American Midwest as well.
Philippine Airlines Targets Trans-Pacific Travel Demand
The Chicago launch is another step in Philippine Airlines' strategy to strengthen its presence in the competitive trans-Pacific aviation market.
Passengers arriving in Manila can connect to popular Philippine destinations, including Cebu, Palawan and Davao, as well as international destinations like Singapore, Bangkok and Hong Kong.
By establishing a direct link to one of America's busiest aviation hubs, Philippine Airlines is attracting more travelers from the Midwest while also improving access to its wider Asian network.
