From left: Lt. Gen. (Ret) Raul Del Rosario, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Director General, Atty. Carlos Luis Fernandez, Philippine Airlines Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer, H.E. Amb. Sarah Anne Hulton, UK Embassy to the PH, H.E. Amb. Donatienne Hissard, French Embassy to the PH, Lucio C. Tan III, PAL Chairman and PAL Holdings, Inc. President and Chief Operating Officer, Chris Drewer, Airbus Senior Vice President and Head of Commercial Accounts – Asia-Pacific, Richard Nuttall, Philippine Airlines President, John Kelly, Rolls-Royce Senior Vice President for Customers – Asia-Pacific, and Atty. Carmelo Arcilla, Philippine Civil Aeronautics Board Executive Director.
MANILA, Philippines –– Philippine Airlines (PAL), Airbus, and Rolls-Royce have formally sealed their partnership for the airline’s next phase of long-haul growth. The three signed definitive agreements covering nine additional Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, with purchase rights for five more, and Trent XWB-97 engines.
The contract signing follows the Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) announced at the Farnborough International Airshow in July. The firm order brings PAL’s total A350-1000 commitment to 18 aircraft.
PAL remains the first and only airline in Southeast Asia to fly the A350-1000. Passengers already enjoy it on nonstop flights to the East and West Coasts of the United States and to Canada. The additional aircraft will bring the A350-1000 experience to more of PAL’s long-haul network in the future.
“We have seen what this aircraft can do. It has allowed us to fly nonstop to North America with better fuel efficiency and a better experience for our passengers,” said Lucio C. Tan III, PAL Chairman and PAL Holdings, Inc. President and Chief Operating Officer. “For eight and a half decades, we have connected people, businesses and communities across the Philippines and around the world. As we honor that legacy, we must also prepare for the decades ahead, and today’s agreements are an important part of that preparation.”
A Better Journey for Every Traveler
The A350-1000 has a quieter cabin, larger windows, a lower cabin altitude and higher humidity, so passengers arrive more rested after long flights.
In Business Class, the “Mabuhay Studios” suites, designed with Lift Aero Design, offer 42 full-flat seats with sliding privacy doors and direct aisle access in a 1-2-1 layout. Each has a 20-inch 4K screen, free full-flight Wi-Fi for messaging, browsing and streaming, and wireless charging.
Premium Economy offers spacious recliners with leg rest and footrest, a 13.3-inch 4K screen and free messaging and browsing. In Economy, seats have a 32-inch pitch, four-way adjustable headrests, and a personal device holder. Every seat in both cabins has its own entertainment screen and USB-A and USB-C charging.
“We are proud that PAL is strongly expanding its A350-1000 flagship fleet, flying the flag of the Philippines across the world,” said Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, EVP Sales of the Airbus Commercial Aircraft business. “This agreement marks an important milestone in deepening our partnership with Philippine Airlines. Being the long-range leader, the A350-1000 is the perfect platform for the airline to build its future long-haul network and meet continued growth, especially in competitive premium transpacific markets.”
Reliability that Keeps Journeys on Schedule
Each aircraft is powered by the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97, the exclusive engine for the A350-1000, known for its reliability and fuel efficiency. The agreement includes Rolls-Royce’s TotalCare® service program, which provides comprehensive engine maintenance and support to keep aircraft available and flights on schedule.
Ewen McDonald, Chief Customer Officer, Rolls-Royce, said: “We are delighted to take this next step with Philippine Airlines and finalize the agreement we announced at Farnborough International Air Show earlier this year. Our partnership goes back many years, and this order highlights Philippine Airline’s continued confidence in the Trent XWB-97’s proven reliability and efficiency. Along with TotalCare support, Philippine Airlines can be confident in its growing A350-1000 fleet as it expands its connections between Southeast Asia and the rest of the world.”
PAL now operates 86 aircraft, 65 of them are Airbus aircraft. As the airline continues to modernize its fleet, these next-generation aircraft will give customers more travel options and a more seamless journey. They will also allow the Philippine flag carrier to bring its signature Filipino hospitality to more destinations around the world.
