Philippine Airlines takes delivery of its first A350 XWB

Courtesy Airbus

Philippine Airlines (PAL) has taken delivery of its first A350 XWB at a special event in Toulouse, France, becoming the 19th airline to operate the world’s most modern and efficient long range airliner.

Altogether, Philippine Airlines has ordered six A350-900s, which will be primarily operated on non-stop services to Europe and North America. These will include the carrier’s longest route to New York, which the A350-900 can operate non-stop in both directions, all year round. Representing over 8,000 nautical miles, the 17-hour return journey from New York to Manila previously involved a technical stop in Vancouver.

Philippine Airlines has configured its A350-900s with a premium three class layout seating 295 passengers in three classes. This including 30 seats that convert to fully flat beds in Business Class, 24 offering extra space in Premium Economy and 241 18-inch wide seats in the main cabin.

“The arrival of the A350 XWB will see PAL offer new levels of comfort on our long-haul flights,” said Jaime J. Bautista, President & COO of Philippine Airlines. “At the same time, we will benefit from the A350 XWB’s new generation efficiency, with a significant reduction in fuel consumption and lower maintenance costs. We believe that the A350 XWB will be a game changer for PAL as we compete with the best in the premium long-haul market.”

Source Airbus / Edited By Airline Adviser 08/12/18