Philippine Airlines on Friday resumed its flight between Beijing and Manila after a break of 16 years.

The airlines' Flight No. PR359 took off from the Beijing Capital International Airport at 12:55 and reached Manila at 17:15 Friday. Its Flight No. PR358 took off from Manila at 7:30 AM and reaches Beijing at 11:55 AM. The route is operated by Airbus A320 aircraft.

Beijing has become the third destination for Philippine Airlines in the Chinese mainland, after Shanghai and Xiamen.

Experts in Beijing believe that the resumption of the flight will help the two nations further strengthen their exchanges in economic, cultural and tourism fields.

Philippine Airlines first opened the air route to Beijing in 1979, but suspended the flight in 1989.

(Xinhua News Agency November 12, 2005)