Air Philippines Corporation, currently doing business under the name and style of Philippine Airlines or PAL express (PALex), was incorporated in the Philippines on February 8, 1995 while commercial operation began on February 1, 1996. It is the 3rd biggest airline in the country operating Airbus A321-200s, A320-200s, and De Havilland DASH 8-400s and DASH 8-300s. It was in 1999 when the Lucio Tan Group of Companies took over management of PALex. The Lucio Tan Group of Companies’ entry into picture resulted in a big improvement in the Company as it allowed PALex to continue to provide low-cost air travel to the riding public. The increase in routes and passenger sales allowed PALex to significantly increase its partnership with Philippine Airlines, including the merging of timetables and ticket sales. The strong relationship with the country’s flag carrier also allowed PALex to move into the PAL terminal at the Manila International Airport. PALex was known for its safety, professionalism and first-class service. PALex is the 2nd Philippine carrier that was included in the IATA Operational Safety Audit Registry in 2014. The airline was also certified by SGS last December 2018 on the ISO9001:2015 Quality Management System. This certification is renewed annually.