Philippine Airlines, sometimes called PAL, was created during the first part of the second world war and has survived ever since then.
PAL was very helpful to the United States during that war with all sorts of flight issues, though on a small scale.
Like it's home country, this airline epitomizes strength and character.
The earlier years of the 2000s held difficult times for Philippine Airlines which included going into receivership.
However, that is all done now: they're out of that particular legal status and are starting to grow again.
Philippine Airlines is well known for their learning center--their world class facilities have been used to train all sorts of people for a variety of aviation careers.
Obviously the learning center is based in the Philippines and provides a great service for the country.
When you think about it, you can see that the center is a big asset for the country and it was smart of them to build it.
The PAL Learning Center offers students professional level training for a variety of careers including technical airline, frontliner, cabin and management crews.
There is also the PAL Aviation School where the motivated can learn to become professional airline pilots.
The Aviation School is licensed and recognized widely as a professional environment for aviator training.
The school offers students a total range of in classroom and non classroom training to become world class pilots and first officers.
In 1992 Lucio Tan financed the purchase of Philippine Airlines, Incorporated.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this sale is that it was done in secret and without the knowledge of the Filipino government.
Later in 1995, PAL's chairman gig was given to Tan.
Philippine Airline's was new to private ownership when those events took place in 1992.
Once those events happened, PAL's highs and lows ran right along with everyone else in the world and, in particular, the Asian financial sector.
Airlines, as a business, are very hard to run.
These businesses do not enjoy the profit margins that other businesses do.
In the later part of this decade, however, the company has worked through its receivership and continues to build.
In true fashion and showing their roots, PAL calls their own frequent flyer program, Mabuhay Miles.
What PAL did in 2002 was take the best from all of their frequent flyer type programs and put them into one.
They managed to make that happen before all the Asian financial market turmoil that soon followed.
The reason PAL had for making that move was that it would help them operate better and faster with greater effect.
The Asian crisis in the financial markets was a difficult time, but PAL survived even if they needed financial assistance.
Philippine Airlines has invest heavily since 2007 when they exited financial receivership.
They have spent close to 100 million dollars on fleet upgrades.
And as we like telling people, they own two Boeing heavies.
The fighting spirit of this company has helped it survive the past 60 plus years.