The CEO of Philippine Airlines (PR, Manila Ninoy Aquino International) says the carrier is considering placing a large aircraft order to support an expected increase in demand. Stanley Ng told the ABS CBN News outlet that studies were underway and suggested any order would be for around 75 aircraft.
Specifically, Ng told the outlet that including current orders, Philippine Airlines was eyeing an order backlog of about 100 aircraft. Currently, Philippine Airlines has thirteen A321-200N and nine A350-1000s on order. Based on assurances from Airbus, the airline expects the first of the A321N types to arrive in mid-2026, and the first of the A350s to begin arriving in the second half of 2025.
Manila's Business World also reports that Philippines Airlines is talking to financial institutions about borrowing around USD500 million to exercise options to secure three more A350-1000s. Ng called the extra aircraft a "buffer," adding that it would take the number of aircraft currently on order to 25. "We are talking to the banks right now for the funding,” he said.
The CEO said it was important to plan ahead and be ready for growth. "It’s thinking ahead also,” he said. Asked if the future order would be for 100 aircraft, Ng said "if you add those pending orders, maybe around that number.”
According to ch-aviation PRO airlines data, Philippine Airlines operates to 72 airports in 21 countries with a fleet of 80 aircraft, including fifteen A320-200s, twenty-two A321-200s, six A321-200Ns, two A321-200NX, eleven A330-300s, two A350-900s, nine B777-300ERs, and eleven DHC-8-Q400s.
