Philippine Airlines readies for New York A350 launch

Philippine Airlines (PAL) president, Jaime Bautista, last month achieved a goal he has long had in his sights – a four star Skytrax rating for his carrier. The next step for PAL is the launch of non-stop routes to the U.S. and Europe with its new A350-900s.

by CHIEF CORRESPONDENT, TOM BALLANTYNE  

March 1st 2018

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When Airbus’ newest long-range jet, the A350-1000, called in to Manila during an Asia-wide demonstration tour last month, Philippine Airlines (PAL) president, Jaime Bautista, made it clear he would be happy to have the US$366 million aircraft in his fleet. Read More »

In a buoyant mood after receiving a four star rating from Skytrax a few days earlier, Bautista told media the airline is spending big money, a forecast $2 billion, to expand its 88 aircraft fleet to 100 planes.

Four A350-900s will be delivered to PAL from June this year as well as six A321neo. The Airbus wide bodies will allow PAL to fly non-stop from Manila to the U.S east coast via the Polar route, and launch more services to Europe. They will replace PAL’s ageing A340s.

PAL’s first non-stop route to the U.S. will be New York with Seattle, Chicago and a point in Western Europe to follow. PAL also will continue to strengthen its network of services from Clark, Cebu and Davao as part of its “multi-hub” network strategy.

Bautista clearly believes the A350-1000, 40% larger than the smaller -900, would be a good fit for PAL. It accommodates 366 passengers in a three-class configuration and has a range of 14,800 kilometers.

The PAL president said the -1000 has 95% common systems and parts numbers as well as the same type rating as the -900. Carriers elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific have ordered 287 A350s, a third of the 854 ordered worldwide. Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, China Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways International and Vietnam Airlines already fly the -900.

PAL operates the B777-300ER, the A340 and the A330 on its longer haul services and the A320 on its domestic and regional network. The arrival of the A321neo – it has 21 in the pipeline – represents a major step forward for the carrier in terms of fuel savings and a longer range capability compared with its predecessors. The first A321 neo will fly the new Manila-Brisbane non-stop service.

PAL will be the first Asian airline to operate a narrow-body airliner equipped with 12 full-flat Business Class seats. All 168 seats in the aircraft’s two cabins – business and economy - will have in-seat video monitors, another first for PAL’s single aisle aircraft – and free WiFi. The A321neo will also fly non-stop from Manila to Sapporo, New Delhi and Mumbai.