PAL Airlines (Chile)

For the Canadian airline, see PAL Airlines. For the airline with PAL code, see Philippine Airlines.

PAL Airlines (legally Aerolínea Principal Chile S.A.) was a Chilean airline that operated out of Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport in Santiago. The airline operated from 2003 to 2014, when it ceased all operations.

PAL - Principal Airlines

IATA ICAO Call sign 5P PCP PRINCIPAL
Founded	September 2003
Commenced operations	June 2009
Ceased operations	September 2014
Hubs	Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport
Fleet size	6
Destinations	5
Headquarters	Las Condes, Chile
Key people	Carlos Musiet (CEO)
Website	www.palair.cl/

History

A Principal Boeing 737-200 parked at Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport in 2008

The airline was established as a charter airline in September 2003^[1] and received approval for scheduled services in June 2009.^[2] It was owned by the Musiet family, who in the 1990s owned now-defunct National Airlines.^[3]

The airline ceased operations in September 2014 by the Directorate General of Civil Aeronautics due to unfavourable market conditions. In early 2015 it was declared bankrupt by a Chilean court.^[4]

Destinations

PAL Airlines served the following scheduled destinations within Chile:^{[citation needed]}

• Antofagasta - Cerro Moreno International Airport
• Calama - El Loa Airport
• Copiapó - Desierto de Atacama Airport
• Iquique - Diego Aracena International Airport
• Santiago - Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport - Hub

Additionally, the airline operated charter flights, mainly to Punta Cana.

Fleet

A PAL Airlines Boeing 737-300 stored at Pinal Airpark in 2013

The PAL Airlines fleet consisted of the following aircraft:^{[citation needed]}

PAL Airlines fleet

Aircraft	Total	Introduced	Retired	Notes
Airbus A330-300	1	2010	2010	Leased from Orbest Orizonia Airlines
		2013	2013
		2014	2014	Leased from Air Europa
Airbus A340-300	1	2010	2010	Leased from Hi Fly
Boeing 737-200	4	2009	2014
Boeing 737-300	1	2007	2008
	4	2010	2014
Boeing 737-400	1	2007	2007	Leased from Futura International Airways
	1	2008	2008
Boeing 757-200	2	2010	2011	Leased from Privilege Style

See also

• List of defunct airlines of Chile