Philippine Airlines

Philippine Airlines is the flag carrier of the Philippines and Asia's oldest airline still operating under its original name, headquartered in Pasay in Metro Manila with its main hub at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Its fleet combines Airbus A350 and Boeing 777 widebodies with A330s and A321s serving trans-Pacific, regional and domestic routes. The airline is not a member of a global alliance, relying instead on codeshare partnerships.

Flying for Philippine Airlines

Philippine Airlines recruits direct-entry pilots and has run its own ab-initio pathway through the PAL Aviation School periodically depending on demand — the 2025 intake was its first full-scale class since 2019. The programme is an eighteen-month, self-funded course leading to a Commercial Pilot Licence with Instrument Rating, and while employment is not guaranteed, graduates may be considered for First Officer roles as vacancies arise.

Applicants must be Filipino citizens with a completed degree and pass screening that includes computer-based aptitude and psychometric testing, interviews and a Class 1 medical. Because intakes open irregularly and fill quickly, candidates who have kept their aptitude and cognitive test skills sharp are best placed to move fast when applications open.