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Elijah Felice Rosales - The Philippine Star
December 22, 2025 | 12:00am
Philippine Airlines marked a historic milestone as the company’s Airbus A350-1000 arrived in Manila on Dec. 20, making the flag carrier the first in Southeast Asia to operate the next-generation widebody aircraft. PAL Holdings Inc. president Lucio Tan III (fifth from left, first row) led executives in taking delivery of the first of nine A350-1000s aircraft that PAL will receive as part of its fleet expansion program.
STAR / File
MANILA, Philippines — Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is cementing its grip in the transpacific market following the arrival of its first Airbus A350-1000, the first of its kind in Southeast Asia.
With airline competition tightening up, PAL is expected to retain its stronghold in the long-range market after receiving over the weekend the first of its nine A350-1000s.
The delivery marks the arrival of the A350-1000 not just in the Philippines, but in Southeast Asia as well, making PAL the first carrier in the region that would operate such an aircraft.
The A350-1000 is considered as the most efficient aircraft right now for long-haul flights, able to transport up to 382 passengers.
For PAL, the aircraft will be set up with a triple configuration of 42 seats in business class, 24 in premium economy and 316 in the economy cabin.
Moreover, the A350-1000 is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines that can turn in as much as 97,000 pounds of thrust. The aircraft can fly with a range of up to 16,100 kilometers, so it gives PAL the capability to reach western regions like North America and Europe.
The A350-1000 also sets a new standard in sustainable aviation, reaching long-range destinations with as high as 25 percent reduction in fuel consumption.
PAL Holdings Inc. president Lucio Tan III said the arrival of the A350-1000 gives the airline the flexibility to deploy more units for its long-haul network, where it is the strongest right now.
“The arrival of the A350-1000 marks a significant milestone to fleet modernization and network growth, (and) it will be a source of Filipino pride and a transformational step for our airline,” Tan said.
The delivery of the new jet also raises PAL’s fleet to a total of 82 aircraft. The airline is receiving more single-aisle and widebody aircraft next year to boost its fleet.
PAL is undergoing a fleet expansion program to scale up operations for future demand, drawing optimism from forecasts that Philippine air traffic would outpace global expectations.
Airbus, for instance, estimates the Philippine travel market to go up by an average of seven percent annually over the next 20 years.
This is faster than the five-percent expectation for Asia and the Pacific and three-percent growth for the world, placing the Philippines at the crosshairs of airlines for future expansion.
The remaining A350-1000s of PAL are scheduled for delivery until 2027, and the airline is also waiting for the arrival of 13 A321neos between 2026 and 2029.
