Philippine Airlines simultaneously announced in Beijing, Manila and other locations that to celebrate its upcoming 70th anniversary of establishment in March 2011, it will launch a series of promotional activities in 2010. Globally, 70,000 free Philippine Airlines tickets will be given away through a lottery sales format. From March 16, 2010, to December 31, 2010, passengers who book via the Philippine Airlines website will have a chance to win. Philippine Airlines was founded on February 16, 1941, by a group of famous Filipino entrepreneurs. On March 15, 1941, a Beech Model 18 aircraft carrying five passengers took off from the Nielsen Airport in Makati and flew to Baguio. This flight made Philippine Airlines the first airline in Asia. Today, as the largest airline in the Philippines, Philippine Airlines has a fleet of 41 jet aircraft flying to 44 domestic and international cities. Later this month, two more overseas cities—Brisbane and Riyadh—will be added to Philippine Airlines' international route network. In 2009, Philippine Airlines carried over 8.96 million passengers, an increase of 17.1% compared to the previous year. To celebrate its 70th anniversary, Philippine Airlines is giving away 70,000 free tickets. According to Lin Yingming, Sales Manager for the Beijing region of Philippine Airlines, all passengers purchasing tickets in the Philippines or via the Philippine Airlines website can participate in this lottery event, with the prize being a free ticket on the same route as the purchased ticket. The lottery will be held once a month for nine months, with 16,000 people being selected. The prizes include free tickets on the same routes as the purchased tickets. It is reported that besides giving away free tickets, Philippine Airlines will also launch "Anniversary Special" discounted ticket promotions and "Free Trip to the Philippines" overseas promotional activities. Motorola plans to spin off its mobile network equipment business. For hotel reservations and inquiries, please call our 24/7 free hotline at 4007840076, and we will serve you wholeheartedly. On the occasion of Philippine Airlines' 70th anniversary on March 15, 2011, 3,000 lucky passengers will be able to travel for free. "We would like to remind tourists to purchase tickets through the official Philippine Airlines website and leave contact information if possible, so our staff can get in touch with passengers promptly," it was noted.