Philippine Airlines teases new business class
Long-range jets will connect Manila to the United States, Canada and potentially even Europe.
By David Flynn, October 2 2024
Philippine Airlines looks set to join Qantas, Air New Zealand, Etihad, Lufthansa, JAL and many others in in the opportunistic “new jets = new business class” movement.
For the Manila-based carrier, this means pairing its order for nine Airbus A350-1000s with a fresh take on business class.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to invest in new aircraft, improved cabins, and enhanced travel experience for our valued customers,” asserts Philippine Airlines (PAL) President Capt. Stanley K. Ng, while confirming the airline is on a growth trajectory following recent positive financial results.
PAL’s current A350-900s and older A330s rely on the popular Vantage XL platform from Thompson Aero, albeit in a less customised form than the Qantas, LATAM and Virgin Atlantic iterations.
Philippine Airlines' current A350 business class.
However, a spokesperson for Philippine Airlines tells Executive Traveller “we will consider new designs for all cabins.”
Qantas and Air India have both locked in Safran Unity seats for their upcoming A350 business classes, with the suites adding mod cons such as sliding privacy doors and wireless charging.
Philippine Airlines' current A350 business class.
Philippine Airlines has inked an order for nine Airbus A350-1000s, with the aircraft due to arrive across the back end of 2025 through to 2027.
Under the Philippine flag carrier’s Ultra Long Haul Fleet project, those jets “will be operated on non-stop services from Manila to North America, including to the East Coast of the US and Canada.”
Flights to East Coast cities such as New York and Toronto would rate as some of the world’s longest flights.
Options on three more A350-1000s will “allow future expansion to new long haul destinations” including “a direct link from the Philippines to Europe,” says Philippine Airlines President Captain Stanley K. Ng.
“The A350-1000 combines greater range capability with the higher capacity we need to serve future demand.”
“It’s the perfect aircraft to enable PAL to meet its expansion plans in a sustainable way, while offering passengers the highest levels of onboard comfort.”
Philippine Airlines this week begins non-stop flights between Manila and Seattle on the A350-900, forging the first direct connection between the two cities.
BA Gold
01 Apr 2012
Total posts 197
I have a soft spot for Philippine Airlines. They carried me on my first flight ever (on a DC10), ironically a short hop between Sydney and Brisbane. We were booked on Compass and in the aftermath of its grounding international airlines that operated domestic 'tag' routes (PR operated SYD - MNL via BNE) were given brief permission to carry domestic passengers with Compass tickets.
In the past 15 years I have flown them a few times, mainly London to Australia. When they took delivery of their A350's 10-ish years ago it really signified the rebirth of the airline and the product, catering and service was fantastic.
I haven't flown them on the A350 since but have on their A330's from MNL (Avios availability is usually easy to get UK-MNL with QR). The best thing about them in Business is that they offer very competitive fares, its a flat bed and the crew tend to be kind. But you definitely get what you pay for with little in terms of limited amenities, poor catering and a really subpar lounge at the airlines hub in MNL. All these things could be easily fixed.
What is not in PR's sphere of control is the dire hub it has to operate from, Manila. It really must be the most awful airport in Asia and is extremely non user friendly for transit. It sprawls over two poorly connected terminals and even if you are connecting within the same terminal it is not easy and is quite the process. Once you are in departures the airport is just very poor in terms of...everything really. Poor aircon, poor toilet conditions, lack of food and beverage outlets and the afore mentioned lounge is not much of a refuge.
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