Philippine Airlines (PR, Manila Ninoy Aquino International) has announced it will place the twenty-one aircraft it is expecting to take in 2018 and 2019 mainly at regional hubs around the country, namely Cebu, Angeles City Clark International, and Davao, as a part of its strategy to boost connectivity in the Philippines, the Manila Standard Business has reported.

"We are no longer just a Manila-centric airline," President and Chief Operating Officer Jaime Bautista has said.

The Filipino flag carrier is set to take delivery of five Dash 8-400s for its subsidiary PAL Express, six Airbus A321neos, and five A350-900s.

Despite the announcement, the carrier's new routes planned for 2018 continue to focus on Manila Ninoy Aquino International with the addition of direct flights to each of New York JFK, Delhi International, Mumbai International, and Sapporo Chitose. The regional airports will mostly see increased frequencies on the already operated routes, although PAL has just announced plans to link Puerto Princesa with both Seoul Incheon and Busan and is also mulling launching direct flights out of Davao to either Bangkok Suvarnabhumi or points in Japan.