New Flight Alert: PAL Resumes Non-Stop Flights to Saipan This Month
The Mariana Islands are calling.
Published on Oct 7, 2026
(SPOT.ph) If your wanderlust is urging you to explore the Pacific beyond Philippine shores, Saipan is worth considering. The largest of the Northern Mariana Islands, this quiet isle is home to white-sand beaches, turquoise waters, vibrant dive spots, and preserved World War II landmarks.
Getting there can often involve grueling layovers, but Philippine Airlines (PAL) is making travel much easier by bringing back its direct service. Here’s everything you need to know about the resumed Manila–Saipan route launching later this month.
Philippine Airlines’ direct Manila–Saipan flights are coming back
Starting October 25, Philippine Airlines will officially resume its non-stop service connecting Manila and Saipan.
But if the route seems familiar, it's because this isn’t the first time the flag carrier is flying directly to the island. In March 2026, PAL reintroduced the direct Manila–Saipan route after a nine-year hiatus. However, operations were temporarily shut down in April due to Super Typhoon Sinlaku. Now that conditions in the Pacific territory have stabilized, the airline is restoring the flights to give leisure travelers, business flyers, and the sizable Filipino community in the Northern Marianas a direct way to get home and back.
Schedule of PAL flights between Manila and Saipan
The flag carrier will offer a direct service between Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) and Saipan’s Francisco C. Ada International Airport (SPN) twice a week. Flights take roughly four hours to get to Saipan and four hours and 15 minutes to return to Manila.
MNL–SPN: Wednesday, Sunday
ETD: 19:45 (GMT+8)
ETA: 1:45 (GMT+10) (+1 day)
SPN–MNL: Monday, Thursday
ETD: 2:50 (GMT+10)
ETA: 5:05 (GMT+8)
According to PAL’s booking website, non-stop flights currently start at USD 348.20 (approximately P21,847) for outbound flights from Manila, while return flights from Saipan start at around USD 324.60 (approximately P20,366.38).
But fair warning before you book that flight: Filipino citizens need a visa to go to Saipan. Since the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) is a U.S. territory, Philippine passport holders generally need a valid U.S. tourist visa (B1/B2) to enter the island.
Things to Do in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands
Not everyone has heard of Saipan—and that’s exactly its appeal. This quiet corner of the Pacific is more relaxed than many famous tropical escapes, yet it packs an impressive number of spots to explore across its compact coastline.
The uninhabited Mañagaha Island is a must-visit, surrounded by a crystal-clear lagoon teeming with sea turtles and reef sharks. (Don’t worry, they’re the harmless kind, so no Jaws reenactments here.) For deeper ocean exploration, The Grotto is a submerged limestone cave system renowned among the world’s best cavern diving spots. Meanwhile, a coastal trek to Forbidden Island suits adventurers seeking secluded tide pools and hidden caves.
For history buffs, Saipan is home to significant World War II heritage. Head to the Last Japanese Command Post to see the remnants of a hillside bunker and weathered cannons and tanks. The historic Banzai Cliff and Suicide Cliff peace memorials are also located nearby, set above sweeping ocean views.
For more information, visit the Philippine Airlines’ official website.
Also read: New Flight Alert: PAL to Launch Two New Direct Flights to India in December
Celia Nachura writes to pay for plane tickets, tennis classes, and a pile of books she’ll never have the time to read. She is also the emotional support human to two dogs, Daisy and Nacho.