[12][13][14][note 2] The airline's main flight operations are located at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Metro Manila.

Its subsidiary PAL Express mainly operates regional routes while PAL operates both domestic (Cebu, Davao, General Santos, Kalibo, Laoag, Manila, and Zamboanga, among others) and international routes mainly in the Asia Pacific region.

In one of the Philippines' biggest corporate failures, PAL downsized its international operations by ending flights to Europe and the Middle East, cutting virtually all domestic flights except routes operated from Manila, reducing the size of its fleet, and laying off thousands of employees.

After PAL's exit from receivership in 2007, the airline has frequently revamped its management, seeking to re-establish itself as one of Asia's premier carriers.

PAL Holdings is part of a group of companies owned by business tycoon Lucio Tan.

[23] In 2010, the European Union (EU) banned Philippine carriers until 2013, despite the safety assessment by the International Civil Aviation Organization.

[24][25] After the EU lifted its ban, Philippine Airlines resumed its flights to Europe, including Amsterdam, London, Madrid, Paris, and Rome.

This was meant to evoke a vertically displayed national flag with white forming by the negative space between the two triangles.

The first PAL aircraft bore a simple white-top, silver-bottom livery separated by solid straight cheatlines, with a small Philippine flag superimposed on the tail.

The name "Philippine Air Lines" was superimposed on the upper forward portion of the fuselage and the PAL logo was located at the back.

However, it uses PAL's third logo on the tail with blue, white, and red cheatlines running the center of the fuselage.

Later on, the bottom half of the fuselage was also painted white The current "Eurowhite" livery, first used with the Short 360, was adopted in 1986 following PAL's corporate rebranding.

PAL took delivery of it three days later, and held a welcoming ceremony at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2.

It was established in 2002 after merging all of PAL's existing frequent flyer programs before the Asian financial crisis.

These lounges have open bars, food catering, Wi-Fi, and charging ports for personal electronic devices.

[39][40] On September 15, 2022, the airline rebranded its premium economy service to Comfort Class for its domestic flights.

On medium-haul and long-haul flights, Philippine Airlines provides amenity kits from L'Occitane en Provence.

A350 and A330 Business Class seats also feature Lantal air cushions, a four-way headrest, a storage shelf for personal belongings, a headphone hook, and a padded inner shell that absorbs noise.

[43] The seats also feature a 13.3-inch screen-flight entertainment unit with video on demand, a headphone jack, a USB port, and in-seat power.

Few PAL jet aircraft have been involved in accidents, the most notable being the explosion onboard Philippine Airlines Flight 434, masterminded by al-Qaeda through Project Bojinka.

In February 2007, PAL was the first airline in the Philippines to be accredited by the International Air Transport Association, passing the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA).

On March 31, 2013, the company's consolidated assets continued to diminish by 8%, an amount equivalent to ₱92,837,849, compared to 2007 figures.

The decline of PAL's assets was primarily due to a net decrease in property and equipment and advance payments to aircraft and engine manufacturers.

Despite this, PAL expenses escalated as a result of more flight operations and higher maintenance costs aggravated by fuel price fluctuations; forty-four percent (44%) of PAL income operating expenditures is utilized for fuel consumption.

On June 15, 1998, PAL retrenched 5,000 employees, including more than 1,400 flight attendants and stewards to reduce costs and alleviate the financial downturn in the airline industry.

The Philippine Highest Tribunal favored the aggrieved party and on July 22, 2008, in its 32-page decision ordered PAL to: Reinstate the cabin crew personnel who were covered by the retrenchment of and demotion scheme of June 15, 1998, made effective on July 15, 1998, without loss of seniority right and other privileges, and to pay them full back wages, inclusive of allowances and other monetary benefits computed from the time of their separation up to the time of actual reinstatement, provided that those who have received their respective separation pay, the number of payments shall be deducted from their back wages.

Although the Asian financial downturn severely affected the airline, PAL's defense of bankruptcy and rehabilitation was considered untenable; hence, the retrenchment policy was deemed unjustified.

[61] Several airlines serve the minor and short-distance routes including Philippines AirAsia and Cebgo.