Philippine Airlines (PAL) has inked a memorandum of understanding with Airbus SE to acquire as many as 14 additional A350-1000 widebody aircraft, bolstering its intercontinental network amidst rising air travel across Southeast Asia.
Announced at the Farnborough International Airshow, the agreement outlines nine firm commitments along with options to purchase five extra planes. Deliveries for the incoming fleet are scheduled to take place between 2034 and 2036.
The deal builds upon a 2023 order for nine A350-1000s, two of which already service direct routes linking Manila to major North American destinations such as New York and Toronto.
The remaining seven jets from the initial batch are expected to join the fleet by 2028.
”The A350-1000 will continue to define the future of our international operations for many years to come,” said Lucio C. Tan III, president and chief operating officer of parent firm PAL Holdings Inc.
Tan noted that PAL remains the only Southeast Asian airline currently operating the A350-1000, leveraging the model’s extended range and efficiency to solidify its foothold in North America.
The agreement was formalized with PAL President Richard Nuttall, Airbus Commercial Aircraft CEO Lars Wagner, and Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, executive vice president of sales for Airbus commercial aircraft.
Airlines across the Asia-Pacific region are modernizing their fleets with lightweight, aerodynamic widebody aircraft to reduce carbon emissions, cut fuel costs, and capture high-value international travelers.
PAL indicated that the new jets will feature a premium three-class configuration, including business class suites equipped with sliding privacy doors, a distinct premium economy section, and enhanced economy seating.
Saint-Exupéry highlighted that the long-range model is ideally suited to support the carrier’s expansion across competitive transpacific routes.
The option for five additional aircraft gives PAL operational flexibility to scale its fleet capacity in response to changing market demands in the decade ahead.