Airlines In The Philippines IV

[JNC03]

Tony Fernandes is currently in Manila today

[JNC03]

New special livery for Cebu Pacific's A330neo

[number_yuan]

just saw a teaser clip on PAL's IG. seems India is going to be launched soon.

[justhorace]

Just posted on their social media channels.

MNL-DEL 3 weekly
MNL-BOM 4 weekly

Beginning December 2026

[Arianespace]

In another news, PAL sealed contract with Airbus for the acquisition of 9 additional A35k a week before deadline. It also signed deals for 18 Trent XWB-97 engines in London. Interestingly, it would have 9ab. What gives? Oneworld?

Still waiting for Boeing deals to come out. Maybe they are now travelling to New York.

[JNC03]

Are there any revisions aside from the economy configuration of the A350-1000? The question is will they reconfigure their current A35Ks to ditch the 10 abreast config.

The Boeing order quantity and delivery time will also not change?

[Arianespace]

AFAIK seats were sealed for the entire fleet on the first batch. Contracts could be modified for the next 4 as they are still months ahead on the cue after OW application. I think they already woke up knowing their planes going to the other side of the big pond doesn't fill up anymore unlike before, even if they put their newest fleet on it. If this were the case, these 5 frames are surely ME bound in the future, particularly so when newer fleet of the North American airlines starts arriving in the next 3 years.

[ewh1]

Or maybe they’ll have a mixed configuration? 325-350 A35Ks and 382s so they can mix and match based on traffic surges and demand?

[filipinoavgeek]

Arianespace wrote

In another news, PAL sealed contract with Airbus for the acquisition of 9 additional A35k a week before deadline. It also signed deals for 18 Trent XWB-97 engines in London. Interestingly, it would have 9ab. What gives? Oneworld?

Still waiting for Boeing deals to come out. Maybe they are now travelling to New York.

Where was it mentioned that the new A35Ks would be 9ab?

[Arianespace]

That is possible. They always maintain 2 or 3 configuration for flexibility. Could be the reason.

filipinoavgeek wrote

Where was it mentioned that the new A35Ks would be 9ab?

Nowhere. Because there is none you can find around. But there is a word for that. Corporate say inside information while geeks say tsismis. And then there are moles who confirms it. For others though, they wait next year for that information to arrive. For some they want that information now. Take your pick. Or better yet wait for official announcement.

Forumers here break stories before the headline. I've seen it not twice or thrice but repeatedly. Take for example, PAL flights to India. You don't seem to see confirmation of that story anywhere else yet this forum is already buzz about it happening. And they did.

[Arianespace]

Speaking of India, the schdule is now loaded in the GDS

Philippine Airlines (PAL) today (25SEP26) announced service launch to India, as the airline launches service to Mumbai while resume Delhi. Delhi was last served via Bangkok between 2011 and 2013.

Manila – Delhi eff 14DEC26 3 weekly A321neo (Last served until June 2013 via Bangkok)
PR642 MNL2240 – 0300+1DEL 321 135
PR643 DEL0815 – 1700MNL 321 246

Manila – Mumbai eff 15DEC26 4 weekly A321neo
PR646 MNL2240 – 0305+1BOM 321 x135
PR647 BOM0715 – 1700MNL 321 x246
https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/60925-prnw26in

Did you know this route was supposed to be launch next month?

[Solblanc]

An NX is supposed to arrive next month, right? So that means less short-haul duties for the 168-seaters?

Also, how many of the 168-seaters are active? BNE needs 1. PER is only 3x weekly, so only needs one half the time. The DEL/BOM rotations only need 1. So in theory, 3 168-seaters can make this work.

If all 6 were active they could do daily for all those points.

[frequentflier]

Solblanc wrote

An NX is supposed to arrive next month, right? So that means less short-haul duties for the 168-seaters?

Also, how many of the 168-seaters are active? BNE needs 1. PER is only 3x weekly, so only needs one half the time. The DEL/BOM rotations only need 1. So in theory, 3 168-seaters can make this work.

If all 6 were active they could do daily for all those points.

I think 9930 and 9935 are on maintenance. The NX 9937 has been down a long time too.

[JNC03]

The upcoming two

One already painted but no engines yet (sept 15 spotted with no paint but after a few weeks it is already painted)


One to be assembled and painted


Both can be delivered before the year ends

[seven13]

Solblanc wrote

An NX is supposed to arrive next month, right? So that means less short-haul duties for the 168-seaters?

Also, how many of the 168-seaters are active? BNE needs 1. PER is only 3x weekly, so only needs one half the time. The DEL/BOM rotations only need 1. So in theory, 3 168-seaters can make this work.

If all 6 were active they could do daily for all those points.

PR might upgauge BNE on certain peak travel dates, I'm guessing just like how they did last year.
PR might send the A21N exclusively on CTS, BOM, DEL, BNE and PER. Maybe the red eye HND which frequently sees the A21N too. Hoping that they do not squeeze in too much schedule on these frames to give them buffer if one goes AOG.

[seven13]

How come it was pushed to December? Is it because of sky rocketing fuel prices?

[AnonBoy]

Anyone else notice that this particular frame has the door plugs activated. I remember the pre-covid neos didn't. Anyone has news how the configuration of these new frames will differ?

[JNC03]

Regarding the new investor reports

Tony Fernandes, co-founder of AirAsia Philippines’ parent firm AirAsia, recently said that the company is keen on expanding the local unit, with support from a new investor.

When asked about this development, Lu said she is not yet at liberty to provide a comment.


https://mb.com.ph/2026/09/24/airasia-banks-on-holiday-travel-as-filipinos-turn-cautious-on-flight-spending

[JNC03]

Philippine Airlines will resume direct flights between Manila and Saipan on Oct. 25, restoring a key air link between the Philippines and the Northern Mariana Islands more than six months after Super Typhoon Sinlaku forced the carrier to suspend the service.

“The exact date out of Manila will be on Oct. 25, and outside Saipan, it will be on October 26, because it's a red-eye flight, so it's the following day,” Sansolis said.

PAL will operate the route twice weekly. Flight PR 2571 will leave Manila every Wednesday and Sunday at 7:45 p.m. and arrive in Saipan at 1:45 a.m. the following day. PR 2572 will depart Saipan every Monday and Thursday at 2:50 a.m. and arrive in Manila at 5:05 a.m. The route will be served by an Airbus A321.

The Philippine flag carrier resumed Manila-Saipan service last March after a nine-year hiatus, but operations were halted following Typhoon Sinlaku in April.

[seven13]

SqwakPH released another article stating that PR’s 2 A359 will be leaving the fleet by next decade.