A350-1000s Purchased By Philippine Airlines

Philippine Airlines is increasing its widebody fleet, doubling down on the Airbus A350-1000 thanks to a new Memorandum of Understanding at the Farnborough Airshow.

Cementing its position as the long-haul flagship for the Philippine-based carrier, the newest contract, once firmed, will see total orders for the model rise to 18 and help not only phase out older types like the 777 but also grow capacity.

The latest contract comes on Day 2 of the Farnborough Airshow and follows its Day 1 purchase of the 787-10 Dreamliner at Boeing, in a 48-hour window that has rapidly evolved the widebody outlook at the airline.

Nine More Airbus A350-1000s For Philippine Airlines

The new MoU announced by Philippine Airlines’ executives alongside those at Airbus covers nine A350-1000s that will be added to the existing orderbook. Once finalised, the contract effectively doubles the airline’s commitment to the flagship product.

Currently, Philippine Airlines has taken delivery of two A350-1000s; these entered service and, being the new flagship, have brought a fresh feel to long-haul flying. However, these first two are just a slice of what’s to come thanks to the backlog.

Designated by the business as the future for long-haul, the A350-1000 has been chosen as the central aircraft that’ll make this happen, thanks to its range and capacity, meaning it can operate non-stop both ways between Manila and major East Coast cities in the US and Canada.

The A350-1000, per PAL Holdings president Lucio C. Tan III, will continue to define the future of international operations for decades to come. The exceptional range, fuel efficiency, reliability, and passenger comfort, backed by becoming the only airline in Southeast Asia to fly the jet, have been rewarding.

PAL has decided to use the jet in a 382-seat layout with three classes present. The Business Class product rewards customers with 42 full-flat suites with privacy doors. There are 24 seats in the dedicated Premium Economy and 316 in Economy Class.

The jets come with all the latest-generation in-flight entertainment and connectivity systems. The fresh feel gives Philippine Airlines the best chance to compete head-on with the increasing premium-heavy competition in the transpacific markets while still offering economy class.

Airbus A350-1000 Joins The Boeing 787-10

Philippine Airlines’ decision to expand its A350-1000 sits within a much broader strategic growth plan, with the airline currently operating a large share of older-generation widebodies such as the Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A330-300 that need addressing.

While the A350 family already operates, there are just four A350s to its name, spread evenly across the A350-900 and A350-1000. With over 20 previous-generation widebodies present, the A350-1000 will take over these older airframes and ensure replacement can be complemented by the need to grow. Adding more units to the backlog makes this possible.

It’s not just Airbus that won business from Philippine Airlines during the Farnborough Airshow. On Day 1, the carrier separately signed for up to 20 Boeing 787-10s in its first deal with the planemaker in nearly 20 years.

The contract split between 15 firm units and options for five additional units gives Boeing a say in how Philippine Airlines grows its operations alongside the A350 family well into the future.

These Boeing 787-10s are the largest within the Dreamliner family, and their capacity and range make them an ideal replacement for medium-haul widebodies in Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Oceania.

By replacing older widebodies, selecting the 787-10 for these markets also increases capacity and aligns with surging demand and airlines’ continued desire to squeeze more seats onto routes wherever possible.