MANILA — Philippine Airlines will launch nonstop flights between Cebu and Los Angeles beginning March 15, 2016 as part of the expansion of the flag carrier’s route operations to North America.

The start of the new service will commence on a milestone date – PAL’s 75th founding anniversary.

The thrice-weekly service will use the 254-seater bi-class Airbus A340 with 36 lie-flat seats in business class and 218 seats in regular economy.

“Our customers in the Visayas and Mindanao have long clamoured for direct flights between Cebu and the U.S. due to the travel convenience this will bring. One can simply take a short hop to Cebu from any point in the Visayas and Mindanao and connect to Los Angeles, instead of flying all the way to Manila,” PAL President and Chief Operating Officer Jaime J. Bautista explained.