Another milestone for the country’s flag carrier.
On Saturday, December 20, Philippine Airlines (PAL) took delivery of its first-ever Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, which landed at the Ninoy Aquino Intenational Airport (NAIA) at 4:43 pm.
The Filipino legacy full-service airline is the first in Southeast Asia to operate the next-generation widebody aircraft, which reinforces its long-term global growth strategy.
The plane is expected to be deployed to PAL’s transpacific routes and features a spacious tri-class cabin layout, which can accommodate up to 382 passengers—42 in Business Class, 24 in Premium Economy, and 316 in Economy.
The aircraft also boasts sustainable features, such as a 25% reduction in fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions compared with previous-generation aircraft, and is capable of being operated with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
Following a ceremony held in Toulouse, France, where the manufacturer is based, PAL Holdings, Inc. President Lucio Tan III led a contingent of the company’s top executives comprising of Board Adviser Kyle Tan, President Richard Nuttall, and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Carlos Luis Fernandez, in taking delivery of the first of nine A350-1000s aircraft that PAL has ordered from Airbus.
Tan said, “The arrival of the A350-1000 marks a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to fleet modernization and network growth. It will be a source of Filipino pride and a transformational step for our airline.”
Prior to this delivery, a demonstration flight conducted in 2018 saw the first time that an A350-1000 landed in Manila.
This latest acquisition also brings PAL’s total fleet to 82 aircraft, with other aircraft in its fleet including A320s, A321s, A330s, and Boeing 777.