Philippine Airlines (PR, Manila Ninoy Aquino International) is looking to make effective its purchase rights for three A350-1000s from Airbus, according to recent comments from the company’s president, Stanley Ng.
The privately-owned flag carrier is looking to add the three A350s to its fleet, compelled by the current encouraging market conditions, Reuters reported him as saying earlier this week. However, the company will decide on the matter later this year.
ch-aviation has reached out to Philippine Airlines for comment.
Ng was speaking as the carrier announced what it called its all-time strongest financial performance for 2023, registering a net income of USD379 million and carrying over 14.6 million passengers, a 58% increase over the previous year.
Last May, Philippine Airlines signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus, ordering nine A350-1000s. These jets, set to arrive between 2025 and 2027, will support its direct services to the United States and a potential return to Europe, ch-aviation reported. Besides the nine A350s, the remaining aircraft set to be delivered to the carrier include thirteen A321-200Ns, which according to the company’s annual report are set to arrive between 2026 and 2029.
The ch-aviation fleets module shows that the Philippine Airlines fleet comprises 52 in-house aircraft, including three A320-200s, eighteen A321-200s, six A321-200Ns, two A321-200NX, eleven A330-300s, two A350-900s, and ten B777-300ERs. It additionally operates twelve A320-200s, four A321-200s, and thirteen DHC-8-Q400s (two of which are stored) via subsidiary PAL Express. It flies to 73 destinations in 21 countries.
