Airlines In The Philippines IV

[Arianespace]

ewh1 wrote

I’m just confused because some people say that it’s max iMTOW will only realistically fly approx 12,500+ with full capacity and say Boeings stats are just marketing gloss.  But now in the article it says it can fly 300-375 passengers up to 13,890km. Is this just creative storytelling on Boeing’s part, highlighting the max range and capacity without mentioning constraints?

Even having LAX, or YVR using B787s can help if something goes tech or free up A35K aircraft for longer range routes.

Not with 375 passengers. A westbound transpac 78J can fly 325 pax to MNL from LAX according to Boeing brochure comfortably, 15 seats more than what PR desired. Anything else, airline trades weight for range.

[ewh1]

Not unexpected that PAL chooses GE from InsiderPH

Philippine Airlines is set to announce a deal with General Electric Aerospace to supply engines for its 15 firm-order Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners, with options for five more aircraft

[kilohakdog]

With these replacing the A330s, would it then be good if PAL transfers the A330s to PAL Express for domestic ops? Considering some routes can cater expansion such as CEB and DVO. The A330s are quite young, too.

[Gustavo J Oppenheimer]

So what happens with the additional A350K orders now. Will that be announced in the event too?

[ewh1]

Some insight from the PAL president on why they chose Boeing, on the sidelines of the announcement. From Aviation Week

Nothing really new, cargo was a big factor and most of the aircraft will replace A330/B777s but will also add to growth once more 787s come online. However, it’s nice to get confirmation that it will be the Swiss Army knife of the PAL long haul fleet.

 The new aircraft will predominantly serve routes currently operated by the A330s, Nuttall said, such as the Middle East, Australia and nearer North American destinations.

However, they will also be deployed on some regional routes, where airport capacity is becoming constrained and larger aircraft can make better use of limited runway slots.

Unless this was badly referencing Hawaii as NA, This means it will probably keep most in the 325 pax range as Arianespace you mentioned, or would having a subtype of 340+ for ME ops be something they do again in a 2 class cabin?  

If NA is indeed the west coast, maybe San Diego and Las Vegas could be back in the cards? Otherwise, It’s just nice having a backup and supplementing frequencies as demand fluctuates.

[Solblanc]

ewh1 wrote

Some insight from the PAL president on why they chose Boeing, on the sidelines of the announcement. From Aviation Week

Nothing really new, cargo was a big factor and most of the aircraft will replace A330/B777s but will also add to growth once more 787s come online. However, it’s nice to get confirmation that it will be the Swiss Army knife of the PAL long haul fleet.

 The new aircraft will predominantly serve routes currently operated by the A330s, Nuttall said, such as the Middle East, Australia and nearer North American destinations.

However, they will also be deployed on some regional routes, where airport capacity is becoming constrained and larger aircraft can make better use of limited runway slots.

Unless this was badly referencing Hawaii as NA, This means it will probably keep most in the 325 pax range as Arianespace you mentioned, or would having a subtype of 340+ for ME ops be something they do again in a 2 class cabin?  

If NA is indeed the west coast, maybe San Diego and Las Vegas could be back in the cards? Otherwise, It’s just nice having a backup and supplementing frequencies as demand fluctuates.

North American destination operated by A330s =HNL. It’s not a bad HNL reference.

In times of desperation PAL did send the A330 to LAX. It just stopped at HNL on its way back on those strange days.

I mean they can always block seats and weight-restrict a 78x to go to continental United States, but why, when you have more than enough A35Ks?

The statements imply that they’re gonna fill these planes up to the brim. High-capacity replacements for the 9ab A330 (which is sadly gonna stick around till 2031 at this rate).

Also let’s realistically look at our infrastructure come 2031. We don’t even see the outline of a runway in Bulacan. PAL is gonna need to maintain density in light of slot restrictions.

[ewh1]

You’re right. I should have noticed the A330 and current NA but I got a bit too excited. Haha

Anyways, yeah what you said makes sense. Will be exciting to see it fly in the next 5 years nonetheless. Its a beautiful a/c

[Arianespace]

ewh1 wrote

Aviation Week

Nothing really new, cargo was a big factor and most of the aircraft will replace A330/B777s but will also add to growth once more 787s come online. However, it’s nice to get confirmation that it will be the Swiss Army knife of the PAL long haul fleet.

Indeed. The proposal has 3 versions, so we could be looking at 429 for regional, 357 for ME, and 318 for NA.

I did told this forum about the PR A333 LAX experience as the raison d'etre before. I doubt however the 2 other variants capacity to cross without stopping in ICN and HNL. Still, Swiss Army knife.

and nearer North American destinations

HNL, YVR, SEA

[seven13]

With regards to the engine, is GE more efficient and reliable than of RRs?

[Solblanc]

Arianespace wrote

ewh1 wrote

Aviation Week

Nothing really new, cargo was a big factor and most of the aircraft will replace A330/B777s but will also add to growth once more 787s come online. However, it’s nice to get confirmation that it will be the Swiss Army knife of the PAL long haul fleet.

Indeed. The proposal has 3 versions, so we could be looking at 429 for regional, 357 for ME, and 318 for NA.

I did told this forum about the PR A333 LAX experience as the raison d'etre before. I doubt however the 2 other variants capacity to cross without stopping in ICN and HNL. Still, Swiss Army knife.

and nearer North American destinations

HNL, YVR, SEA

Australia could use a high-J aircraft as 18J is really small for a developed market and the cabin sells out pretty quickly. Plus, with them joining oneworld, they will need extra J capacity for sure.

318 pax is pretty much KLM’s config with 38J 28W 252Y

I can see this doing well in SEA, but YVR has matured well and may need to keep the capacity of the A35K

[Arianespace]

I think the longhaul logic here is to have alternative aircraft in the fleet, ie 359 to cover east coast while 78J covers the west coast, for capacity matching. For anything else there is always the 35K that can also go regional to SYD, BKK or CTS.

[Darkknight85]

Will PR order new A350s in FIA?

[ewh1]

In other news, PAL is currently going through oneworld’s 220 page manual outlining all the steps they need to action before they join oneworld, scheduled for the second half of 2027, as per Christoper Gaertner, VP Revenue Management & Alliances.
 
From Executive Traveller

 “The process is quite deep and a lot to work through,” Gaertner tells Executive Traveller on the sidelines of a media event in Honolulu marking Hawaiian Airlines’ entry into Oneworld.

PAL is now steadily working though “a delivery requirement document which has 220 or so pages.”

“It covers all the different areas starting with marketing, loyalty, revenue management, safety and communications,” even down to “how cabin announcements have to change once we join Oneworld.”

This might be where the verbiage “to decongest” came from?

[ewh1]

Confirmed. 9 new A350-1000s + 5 options. Deliveries from 2034-36. From PAL’s website

 FARNBOROUGH, UNITED KINGDOM — July 21, 2026 — Philippine Airlines (PAL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus for the acquisition of nine additional A350-1000 aircraft, with purchase rights for five more, reinforcing the Philippine flag carrier's commitment to long-haul growth and fleet modernization.

[Arianespace]

ewh1 wrote

“It covers all the different areas starting with marketing, loyalty, revenue management, safety and communications,” even down to “how cabin announcements have to change once we join Oneworld.” 

This might be where the verbiage “to decongest” came from?


That is their word not mine.

[Gustavo J Oppenheimer]

ewh1 wrote

In other news, PAL is currently going through oneworld’s 220 page manual outlining all the steps they need to action before they join oneworld, scheduled for the second half of 2027, as per Christoper Gaertner, VP Revenue Management & Alliances.
 
From Executive Traveller

From the same article

Philippine Airlines’ Mabuhay Miles loyalty program will be aligned to the Oneworld tier structure, so that a traveller’s status with any Oneworld airline delivers familiar perks on PAL.


Mabuhay Miles Elite will be equivalent to Oneworld Ruby, such as Qantas Silver, while Mabuhay Miles Premier Elite will line up against Oneworld Sapphire, such as Qantas Gold.

Philippine Airlines is now considering a top-level Mabuhay Miles tier to align with Oneworld Emerald.

“That’s something that we are looking into and discussing internally, on how we can align Mabuhay Miles with Oneworld,” Gaertner says. “It’s not a question of if we do it, but how we do it… that’s just part of the requirements to join the alliance.”

It’s not yet known if Mabuhay Miles’ Million Miler level, which is a lifetime tier earned after notching up one million miles flying on PAL, will map to Oneworld Sapphire or Emerald.

[Solblanc]

ewh1 wrote

Confirmed. 9 new A350-1000s + 5 options. Deliveries from 2034-36. From PAL’s website

 FARNBOROUGH, UNITED KINGDOM — July 21, 2026 — Philippine Airlines (PAL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus for the acquisition of nine additional A350-1000 aircraft, with purchase rights for five more, reinforcing the Philippine flag carrier's commitment to long-haul growth and fleet modernization.

2034!? That’s a loooong time.

Then again, the A321neos that are supposed to arrive this year were ordered a decade ago.

[JNC03]

Thats the next phase now

The narrowbody fleet

[ewh1]

It looks like 10ab is here to stay.

Apparently net promoter scores show high customer satisfaction with the product but will evaluate in the next few years if adjustments are needed. From Flightglobal

 Philippine Airlines president Richard Nuttall says the airline’s decision to fit the A350s with 10-abreast configuration is proving successful with customers.

“The 10-abreast is going very, very well,” he says. “Passengers love it, they also love the seat pitch.”

He stresses that the carrier operates 15h sectors with the jet, from Manila to New York, and has strong net promotor scores in the economy-class cabin.

“At the moment, we’re not particularly looking to change the configuration,” he says. “Obviously, we’ve got two or three years to see how the market develops, to see if we want to tweak it.”

[Solblanc]

Flightglobal reports that Richard answered questions on 10ab: https://www.flightglobal.com/archive/2026/07/philippine-airlines-doubles-its-a350-1000-commitment-after-787-fleet-deal/


Basically, they have no plans to back down from 10ab anytime soon. Their gamble of trading width for pitch is so far doing okay. In three years, we may see other airlines sadly follow suit.