FLEET - Philippine Airlines is expected to firm agreements for about 10 B787s and 10 A350s, with the deals expected to be announced at Farnborough.

Aviator / PAL
 

FLEET - Philippine Airlines studies order for up to 20 widebodies

Philippine Airlines (PR, Manila Ninoy Aquino International) is evaluating an order for up to 20 widebody aircraft to replace older A330-300s and B777-300ERs, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the discussions.

The Philippine flag carrier, which recently announced plans to join Oneworld by mid-2027, is reportedly considering the B787 as well as the A330neo and A350 families, though no decision has been made on a manufacturer or aircraft type.

The sources also said Philippine Airlines does not intend to order the B777X because it is considered too large for operations at Manila Ninoy Aquino International.

ch-aviation has requested comment from Philippine Airlines, Airbus, and Boeing.

Rightsizing the fleet

Speaking at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, president Richard Nuttall said capacity constraints at the Philippines' main gateway were encouraging the airline to focus on larger aircraft and additional long-haul services.

"What it really means is that we're concentrating more on increasing the size of our aircraft and operating more intercontinental flights," he said.

Philippine Airlines and regional subsidiary PAL Express collectively operate eighteen A320-twenty-two A321-200s, six A321-200Ns, two A321-200NX, eleven A330-300s, two A350-900s, two A350-1000s, ten B777-300ERs, and eleven DHC-8-Q400s.

According to ch-aviation data, the flag carrier has outstanding orders for seven A350-1000s and thirteen A321-200NX aircraft. According to Nuttall, deliveries of the narrowbody aircraft have slipped from their original schedules.

Philippine Airlines temporarily reduced capacity by 15% and deferred approximately USD100 million in capital expenditure as it prioritises cash management amid elevated fuel prices, although Nuttall said the deferral is temporary.

CH Aviation / Photo: Duncan Stewart 

FLEET - Philippine Airlines Welcomes Arrival of Second Airbus A350-1000

 Flag Carrier Continues Fleet Modernization

MANILA, Philippines — 29 May 2026 — Philippine Airlines (PAL) today welcomed the arrival of its second Airbus A350-1000 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, marking another major milestone in the flag carrier’s continuing fleet modernization program.

The aircraft, which arrived in Manila at 5:18 PM, follows the delivery of PAL’s first A350-1000 in December 2025 and forms part of the airline’s order for nine Airbus A350-1000 aircraft.

Philippine Airlines remains the first and only carrier in Southeast Asia to operate the Airbus A350-1000.

Designed for long-haul operations, the A350-1000 delivers greater fuel efficiency, operational reliability, passenger comfort, and improved environmental performance, supporting PAL’s growing network between the Philippines and North America.

“As demand for international travel continues to grow, this second Airbus A350-1000 will play an important role in enhancing our long-haul operations and elevating the overall passenger experience while supporting the long-term modernization of Philippine Airlines,” said Philippine Airlines President Richard Nuttall.

The arrival comes as PAL continues to build on its operational momentum following its successful recovery and transformation. In 2025, global aviation analytics firm Cirium recognized Philippine Airlines as the #1 most on-time airline in the Asia-Pacific region.

PAL

FLEET - Philippine Airlines to take 9 jets in 2026, sees no delays

Photo: Alain Charpentier - TLS - A350-1000-F-WZNV-778

Philippine Airlines (PR, Manila Ninoy Aquino International) has no plans to defer its upcoming deliveries of five A350-1000s, and four A320-200 and A321-200N aircraft in 2026, and expects them roughly on time, president Richard Nuttall said during an on-stage interview at the Aviation Festival Asia in Singapore in late March 2026.

Nuttall said the carrier expects the A350-1000 deliveries to proceed "more or less on time," while noting "a little bit less certainty" around some A321neo arrivals scheduled for late 2026 and 2027. "If some of those delay a little bit, it may not be a bad thing for a number of reasons. But at the moment, we’re not talking about delaying anything," he said.

The airline has outstanding orders for thirteen additional A321neo jets and eight more A350-1000s. PAL has also been adding second-hand A320-200s to support domestic operations under PAL Express (2P, Manila Ninoy Aquino International); the first three of five units has been delivered since 2025 so far.

The fleet plan is aligned with expected traffic growth in the domestic market and North America, including the planned launch of a Manila Ninoy Aquino International-Chicago O'Hare service in November 2026.

Nuttall said that new aircraft are balanced against expiring leases, which allows the airline to adjust capacity by not renewing older units if demand weakens. "If the world doesn't grow quite as fast, we have the ability every year or so to parachute a couple of aircraft out without major pain," he explained.

Newer-generation aircraft offering around 25-30% better fuel efficiency also help the airline mitigate elevated jet fuel costs. In addition, PAL is retrofitting narrowbody and long-haul aircraft to standardise its hard product, with widebody upgrades expected to take two to three years due to seat supply constraints.

Per ch-aviation data, PAL and PAL Express operate a combined fleet of eighteen A320-200s, twenty-two A321-200s, six A321-200Ns, two A321-200NX, eleven A330-300s, two A350-900s, and one A350-1000, as well as thirteen DHC-8-Q400s.

Fuel crisis

In the same interview, Nuttall said the carrier's initial response to the rise of fuel prices was to review fuel surcharges, fares, and marginal routes. At the time, PAL has secured enough fuel for domestic operations until the end of June 2026, while visibility on international supply is limited beyond May.

Nuttall also warned that any prolonged disruption to fuel flows through the Strait of Hormuz could force airlines and governments to rethink supply chains and capacity planning. He said PAL was in a relatively strong position at this stage and could benefit from some North America flows of passengers rerouting away from Gulf hubs.

The airline has been profitable for four consecutive years and maintains a strong cash position, which Nuttall said gives it resilience amid fuel price volatility and supply uncertainty.

The Philippine Civil Aeronautics Board recently raised fuel surcharge rates from Level 8 to 19 for the April 16-30 period, allowing airlines to charge up to PHP15,397.2 pesos (USD260) on their longest routes.

CH aviation

 

ROUTES - Philippine Airlines applies for an exemption which would enable PAL to operate scheduled nonstop flights between Manila and Chicago for summer 2026.

 Photo: Airbus

FLEET - Philippine Airlines and Southeast Asia’s First Airbus A350-1000 (RP-C3510 - A350-1041 - Serial 758

Manila Ninoy Aquino Int'l Airport - RPLL - Philippines

Photo: Vince Chua Official

This is the first of nine A350-1000s ordered. Configured with a three-class cabin for up to 382 passengers, the aircraft is intended to serve the company's transpacific routes.
Equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, the A350-1000
With this addition, the total fleet of Philippine Airlines will be 82 aircraft.

FLEET / ORDER - Boc Aviation Signs Lease Agreement With Philippine Airlines For Two A350-1000 Aircraft

BOC Aviation Limited (“BOC Aviation” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has agreed to purchase and leaseback two Airbus A350-1000 aircraft to new customer Philippine Airlines Inc. (“PAL”) on long-term operating leases. Both aircraft will be powered by Rolls Royce Trent XWB engines, with the first delivery scheduled for December 2025.

“We are delighted to welcome PAL as a new customer. This is our first A350-1000 delivery and underscores our commitment to supporting the industry’s development with latest-technology aircraft,” said Steven Townend, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, BOC Aviation. “As a global aircraft operating lessor, and the largest headquartered in Asia, our financial strength and orderbook allows us to support the growth our airline customers with both capital and capacity.”

“The addition of the Airbus A350-1000 to our fleet marks a pivotal step in Philippine Airlines’ ongoing fleet modernization program,” said Richard Nuttall, President of Philippine Airlines. “This investment not only aligns with our commitment to operating one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleets in the region, but also ensures we can deliver world-class comfort, reliability, and efficiency to our passengers. Our partnership with BOC Aviation reinforces our strategy to enhance our global competitiveness while supporting the sustainable growth of our network.”

 

ORDER / FLEET - Philippine Airlines Offers Preview of First A350-1000

The A350 will serve as PAL’s flagship aircraft for long-haul routes. It will feature a three-class cabin with 382 seats in total. Eight more A350-1000s are scheduled for production and delivery to the Philippine flag carrier between 2026 and 2028.

Delivery of the aircraft is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2025.

Philippine Airlines currently has 79 aircraft in service. In addition to the nine A350-1000s, PAL expects to take delivery of 13 new A321neo regional jets starting in 2026.

Photo: PAL

 

NEW AIRCRAFT - Philippine Airlines selects A350-1000

Airbus announced that Philippine Airlines has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Airbus A350-1000. In total the airline is planning to order nine A350-1000s, which the airline plans to operate, initially, from Manila to destinations in Canada and the United States. Deliveries are expected to start in 2025 and completed in 2027 and will be used to replace the airline's B777-300ERs.

The airline already operates two A350-900s. Originally, the airline had six A350-900s but during the pandemic it decided to return four of these to their lessors, and have now leased them to Lufthansa. Next to the A350s, the airline's fleet consists of thirteen A320s, 21 A321s, eight A321neos, ten A330-300s, nine B777-300ERs, and eleven DHC-8-400s.

Next to these newly ordered A350-1000s, Philippine Airlines is also looking into adding widebodies on a more short term to meet the rising post-pandemic demand. According to the airline's CEO this has, however, proved to be difficult as more airlines are planning the same, driving up lease-rates.

Illustration by Philippine Airlines.

Philippine Airlines Seeks To Cut Boeing 777 And Airbus A350 Fleet

 

Philippine Airlines (PAL) is considering cutting its widebody fleet as the pandemic continues to impact business. The carrier will reduce its Airbus A350 and Boeing 777 fleet over the coming months by returning them to lessors. Let’s find out more about these fleet reductions.

According to Bloomberg, Philippine Airlines is currently planning a “comprehensive restructuring plan” that could see it enter Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the US as well. The plan will see PAL substantially scale back its long-haul fleet as demand for that segment seems unlikely to fully recover for a few years.



The fleet changes will see a minimum of two A350s and up to four 777s return to lessors in the coming months. PAL is currently in talks with multiple lessors to work out agreements for keeping on or returning their fleet.The two A350s are reportedly already in the process of being returned to lessors and being redeployed to other carriers. This means PAL will only operate four A350-900s, down from six at the start of last year.

The larger 777 fleet could be reduced even more. PAL currently operates 10 777-300ERs, which means the airline could be left with six at the end of the restructuring. This would inevitably mean axing long-haul routes once travel resumes

Simple flying

PHILIPPINE AIRLINES - A350-900 - F-WZHI msn 303 "The Love Bus"

Alain Charpentier - TLS

Philippine Airlines extends A350 Los Angeles service till late-Oct 2018

 Philippine Airlines in last week’s schedule update extended planned Airbus A350-900XWB service on Manila – Los Angeles route, previously scheduled for the weekend of 22SEP18. From 28SEP18 to 27OCT18, the A350 will operate PR112/113 service on Fridays, replacing 777-300ER.                                                                        

PR112 MNL1125 – 1000LAX 773 367
PR112 MNL1125 – 1000LAX 350 5
PR102 MNL2100 – 1930LAX 773 D
PR103 LAX0005 – 0610+1MNL 773 D
PR113 LAX1230 – 1825+1MNL 773 367
PR113 LAX1230 – 1825+1MNL 350 5

By Jim Liu - Routesonline

Photo: hsckcwong - LAX, USA

Philippine Airlines accelerates A350 London service entry to Sep 2018

Philippine Airlines in this week’s schedule update is moving forward planned Airbus A350-900XWB service entry on Manila – London Heathrow route. Previously scheduled to commence on 28OCT18, the A350 will operate this route from 15SEP18. From 15SEP18 to 27OCT18, this route is served 4 times a week, as seasonal adjustment.

PR720 MNL1300 – 2035LHR 350 x136
PR721 LHR2220 – 1845+1MNL 350 x136

Service operates daily from 28OCT18.
This update first appeared on Airlineroute earlier this week via twitter.

By Jim Liu

 

PHILIPPINE AIRLINES - A350-900 - F-WZNZ - msn 228 (RP-C3503)

Alain Charpentier - TLS

Philippine Airlines adds A350 London service from late-Oct 2018

Philippine Airlines this week opened reservation for Airbus A350-900XWB operating service on Manila – London Heathrow route, replacing Boeing 777-300ER. The A350, configured in J30W24Y241, will operate daily flight from 28OCT18.

PR720 MNL1300 – 1925LHR 350 D
PR721 LHR2150 – 1945+1MNL 350 D

The airline is expected to operate A350 delivery flight on 14JUL18 from Toulouse to Manila, with following schedule.
PR5003 TLS1700 – 1200+1MNL 350 14JUL18

By Jim Liu - Routesonline

Philippine Airlines’ A350 XWB completes first flight in Toulouse

Philippine Airlines’ (PAL) new A350-900 has completed its first flight from the Airbus assembly line in Toulouse, France. The flight marks the start of the final phase of the production process, leading to customer acceptance and delivery in the coming weeks.

Philippine Airlines has ordered six A350-900s. The airline will use these aircraft on its premier long haul services from Manila to destinations in North America and Europe.

The A350-900 will join an existing Airbus fleet at Philippine Airlines that currently includes 26 A320 Family aircraft, 15 A330s and five A340s.

The A350 XWB is an all-new family of mid-size wide-body long-haul airliners shaping the future of air travel. The A350 XWB features the latest aerodynamic design, carbon fiber fuselage and wings, plus new fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce engines. Together, these latest technologies translate into unrivalled levels of operational efficiency, with a 25 per cent reduction in fuel burn and emissions, and significantly lower maintenance costs.

The A350 XWB features an Airspace cabin which, on top of the aircraft spaciousness and quietness, provides better ambience, design and services, contributing to superior levels of comfort and well-being, and setting new standards in terms of flight experience for all passengers.



To date, Airbus has recorded a total of 847 firm orders for the A350 XWB from 44 customers worldwide, already making it one of the most successful widebody aircraft ever.

Philippine Airlines to use A350s on long-haul routes

Philippine Airlines (PAL), which expects the first of six Airbus A350-900s to be delivered by the second half of June, plans to deploy the new aircraft on long-haul routes later this year.

The initial A350 will likely be flown on some routes around the Southeast Asia region initially, a PAL spokesman told ATW’s sister publication Aviation Daily.

The aircraft will then be used for nonstop flights from Manila to New York JFK, replacing PAL’s one-stop service. PAL is tentatively looking at the last week of October for the New York A350 flight, which would be the start of the winter schedule season.

PAL, which placed the order for six of the type in 2016, expects to receive four by the end of this year and the other two in 2019, the spokesman said. Other early A350 destinations will be London and Toronto.

The A350 arrivals will allow PAL to phase out its remaining five A340-300s. This will not necessarily occur as one-for-one replacement when each A350 is delivered, and the retirement schedule is still being worked out, the spokesman said.

PAL currently serves JFK with 4X-weekly flights using Boeing 777-300ERs, with Vancouver as the stopover point. The Toronto flight is nonstop 4X-weekly with -300ERs, and PAL serves London Heathrow nonstop daily with the same aircraft type.

The carrier is also preparing for the initial deliveries of its Airbus A321neo orders this year. PAL is one of the many customers of the A321neos affected by delivery delays because of issues with the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engine option. The carrier now expects its first A321neo delivery in June, although late May is a possibility, the spokesman said. PAL has 21 of these aircraft on order, although no update is available as to how many are scheduled to arrive this year.
Adrian Schofield, avweekscho@gmail.com
Adrian Schofield | ATW Plus

Boeing, Avation PLC Deliver Philippine Airlines' 10th 777-300ER

Philippine flag carrier puts new airplane directly into revenue service
Marks first twin-aisle delivery for leasing company

EVERETT, Wash., Dec. 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) and leasing company Avation PLC celebrated the delivery of Avation's first Boeing airplane, a 777-300ER (Extended Range), that will be leased and operated by Philippine Airlines.

This airplane is the 10th 777-300ER for Philippines' national carrier.

"The Boeing aircraft will serve our long-haul operations, a move designed to primarily enhance the total passenger travel experience and in-flight service delivery," said Jaime Bautista, PAL president and Chief Operating Officer. "While we already have eight 777s serving the West Coast, the incoming units will also augment other trans-pacific flights." Bautista added that "the Boeing 777 is our flagship for long-haul operations. With its range and operational capability, the flag carrier will be at par with other full service carriers along the route."

"We're pleased our first twin-aisle delivery is a Boeing 777, the marquee airplane in its class," said Jeff Chatfield, executive chairman, Avation. "We're confident this airplane will complement our regional and single-aisle fleet and help Avation continue to grow as a full-service commercial aircraft lessor."

Philippine Airlines took delivery of its ninth 777-300ER earlier in the week and will use the new airplanes primarily on routes from Manila to North America. The carrier will fly the 777-300ER directly from Everett, Wash. to Vancouver, British Columbia where the airplanes will enter revenue service to Manila.

"Boeing and Philippine Airlines have been strong partners for decades and it is a special occasion today as we deliver their 10th 777-300ER," said Dinesh Keskar, senior vice president, Asia Pacific & India Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "The 777 continues to outperform by all measures, providing exceptional value to our airline and leasing customers. There is no better testament to this than Philippine Airlines' confidence in its new 777-300 by putting it directly into service with its flight from Vancouver to Manila."

The 777 is the world's most successful twin-engine, long-haul airplane. The 777-300ER is equipped with the world's most powerful GE90-115B commercial jet engine, and can seat up to 386 passengers in a three-class configuration with a maximum range of 7,825 nautical miles (14,490 kilometers).

Philippine Airlines moves forward Boeing 777 London service to Sep 2017

Philippine Airlines in latest schedule update has moved forward planned Boeing 777-300ER service on Manila – London Heathrow route, previously scheduled from 16DEC17. The 777, which will replace A340-300, will now commence on 18SEP17, initially 4 times a week.

PR720 MNL1300 – 2035LHR 773 x136
PR721 LHR2220 – 1855+1MNL 773 4
PR721 LHR2220 – 1915+1MNL 773 2
PR721 LHR2220 – 1920+1MNL 773 5
PR721 LHR2220 – 1935+1MNL 773 7
By Jim Liu - Routes Online

Philippine Airlines London service changes from Sep 2017

Philippine Airlines in last week’s schedule update adjusted planned Manila – London Heathrow operation, including the launch of Boeing 777-300ER operation. From 19SEP17 to 23NOV17, the daily A340-300 operation will be temporary reduced to 5 weekly (Day x13). From 16DEC17, the airline will begin Boeing 777-300ER operation on this route.

PR720 MNL1300 – 2035LHR 773 x4
PR720 MNL1310 – 2035LHR 773 4
PR721 LHR2220 – 1915+1MNL 773 D


At present time, this temporary marks the end of A340-300 scheduled service, with last flight currently scheduled on 15DEC17. Additional changes remain likely when the airline gradually updates systemwide
schedule for winter season.

By Jim Liu - Airline Routes