Bringing the biggest plane in its fleet to the southern metropolis.
On Tuesday, July 28, flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) announced that it will be deploying its flagship Airbus A350-1000 to Davao City during select dates in August.
The said move is to celebrate the festivities in the city for the Kadayawan Festival, which is a week-long celebration of the region’s bountiful harvest, indigenous heritage, and the diverse cultures of its tribal communities. Highlights include street dancing, floral floats, agricultural fairs, and cultural showcases.
According to the airline, the wide-body jet can be experienced by travelers during the height of the festivities, with specific flights and dates also revealed.
The A350-1000 will operate PR 1813 / 1814 (Manila-Davao-Manila) on August 13 and PR 1805 / PR 1806 on August 16.
Justin Warby, Philippine Airlines Vice President for Sales and Distribution, noted: “Kadayawan is one of the most vibrant celebrations of Filipino culture, and Davao holds a special place in the hearts of our kababayans and travelers alike.”
“Bringing our newest flagship aircraft to Davao for this occasion is our way of joining the festivities in true PAL fashion — giving our passengers a flight experience as memorable as the destination itself,” he added.
Philippine Airlines is the first-ever airline to operate the said aircraft model in Southeast Asia and has two already operating in its fleet.
These planes are configured with 42 full-flat Business Class seats, 24 Premium Economy seats, and 316 Economy seats with larger overhead bins, mood lighting, and the latest inflight entertainment system with 4K screens.
PAL currently operates the Airbus A350-1000 on its Manila-New York and Manila-Toronto routes.
Meanwhile, at the Farnborough International Airshow in the United Kingdom last week, the airline pruchased additional A350-1000 from Airbus, pushing the number of their total orders to 18 — including the two already delivered and seven that were part of the initial order in 2023.
They also signed a deal with Rolls-Royce to power these planes with its Trent XWB-97 engines.
