PAL’s latest, ultra-modern airliner

TOULOUSE, France—The future of flying, according to Philippine Airlines (PAL), is a fleet of modern aircraft that conserves aviation fuel and elevates the experience of passengers, especially long-haul travelers who always suffer from jet lag crossing time zones.

PAL is acquiring next-generation long-range aircraft that can connect the Philippines to key economic centers and tourism hot spots across the Pacific and beyond.

The first of nine Airbus 350-1000 jets is now in production at the Airbus Toulouse facility.

The five main sections of its future flagship aircraft—nose, forward fuselage, center fuselage, rear section and wings—are currently being assembled with allowance for electricity, water and air systems.

“The A350-1000 is the newest. It is the future. Whether it be the Wi-Fi, the flight entertainment, the seats, the space, it’s lifting things to another level,” PAL’s president Richard Nuttall told media.

PAL will take delivery of the first of the next-generation jet before the end of 2025. The eight others are slated for eventual delivery from 2026 to 2028.

“The fleet game-changer will significantly boost PAL’s passenger capacity and reinforce our commitment to delivering world-class service,” Nuttall adds.

“Philippine Airlines has journeyed through turbulent times—from the depths of the pandemic and the challenges of a global crisis, through the hard work of restructuring and recovery, and now towards a resurgence,” said PAL executive vice president and chief operating officer Carlos Luis Fernandez.

He said PAL’s shareholders made a commitment “to rebuild stronger, smarter and focused on delivering world-class service and sustainable growth for generations to come.”

This strategic investment in new aircraft aims to position PAL as a “benchmark of product quality, service excellence and operational reliability in the region,” he adds.

PAL began its transformation with the introduction of Airbus A350-900 in 2018. Today, its A350-900s operate its longest nonstop flights, including routes from New York and Toronto to Manila.

The newer Airbus A350-1000s will soon replace the Boeing 777-300ERs that have long been the backbone of PAL’s transpacific operations.

The old fleet has served PAL well since 2009. In 2024 alone, PAL made 3,000 round trips to North America, carrying close to a million passengers.

But competition is getting tougher and tougher. United Airlines, for instance, is challenging PAL’s dominance as nonstop provider of flights to America with the launch of direct flights to San Francisco.

Fernandez explained the key is to operate more efficiently and offer better service.

The “game-changing” A350-1000 is seen to open a new chapter in the development of its transpacific long-haul operations. Fitted with Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, the aircraft has a range of up to 16,100 kilometers (8,700 miles), offering ultra-long connectivity with improved fuel efficiency and reduced carbon emissions.

Airbus officials explained that compared with previous generations of aircraft, A350-1000 has 25 percent less fuel burn and carbon emissions.

Each A350-1000s can accommodate 382 passengers in a tri-class configuration with distinct cabins allotted for Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy Class travelers.

Fernandez explained that PAL selected A350-1000 because it will provide PAL with the flexibility to balance demand with capacity.

“We plan to deploy these on our prime routes to the United States and Canada, starting with Los Angeles, San Francisco and Toronto, as well as New York,” he explained.

PAL’s A350-1000s will seat 382 passengers – 42 in Business Class seats, each with direct aisle access and privacy doors. It has “exceptionally quiet cabin” — up to four times quieter than other widebody aircraft.

“With higher humidity, lower cabin altitude cleaner air technology and spacious bins and ceilings, these aircraft will deliver a more restful journey, with less jet lag,” Fernandez says.