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User:Triila73/sandbox/What should the Philippine Airlines fleet look like?

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Philippine Airlines is composed of wide-body and narrow-body aircraft from five families (including PAL Express fleet): Airbus A320ceo family, A321neo, Airbus A330, Airbus A350, and Boeing 777.

Current fleet

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As of November 2024, Philippine Airlines operates the following aircraft:[1][2][3]

Philippine Airlines fleet
Aircraft In service Orders Passengers Notes Refs
J W Y Total
Airbus A321-200 15 — 12 18 169 199 [4][5][6]
Airbus A321neo 16 5 12 — 156 168 [7]
183 195 Aircraft in Airbus Cabin Flex (ACF) configuration. [8][9]
Airbus A330-300 13 — 18 24 267 309 2 aircraft to be reconfigured to 359 seats. [10][11]
33 312 363 [5][12][13]
Airbus A350-900 9 — 30 24 241 295 [14]
7 8 36 28 300 364
Airbus A350-1000 5 7 42 24 314 380 Order with 3 purchase rights. [15][16][17]
Boeing 777-300ER 10 — 42 — 328 370 [17][18]
Total 75 19

PAL Express fleet

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As of November 2024, PAL Express operates the following aircraft:

PAL Express fleet[19]
Aircraft In Service Orders Passengers Notes
J Y+ Y Total
Airbus A320-200 13 — — — 177 177
— 12 168 180
Airbus A321-200 6 — — 12 193 205 Transferred from Philippine Airlines.
De Havilland Canada Dash 8 Q400 12 — — 6 80 86
Total 31 —
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Fleet development

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Airbus A321-200

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The Airbus A321 is the main aircraft utilized for short-haul and medium-haul flights that serve Southeast and East Asia such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur, as well as major domestic destinations including Cebu and Davao. On August 28, 2012, Philippine Airlines ordered 34 Airbus A321-200 equipped with IAE V2500 engines,[20] but was later reduced to 24. The first A321 was delivered on August 7, 2013.[21]

Airbus A321neo

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On August 28, 2012, Philippine Airlines ordered 10 Airbus A321neos equipped with two Pratt & Whitney PW1000G engines. The airline, in total, ordered 44 A321s of both the current (CEO) and new engine option (NEO) variants.[20]

On March 29, 2015, the airline announced that it will be receiving the A321neo starting 2017. However, the deliveries were delayed to May 2018 due to problems with the Pratt & Whitney engines.[22] PAL received its first A321neo (new engine option) on June 1, 2018,[23] while the other five A321neos were delivered until December 2018. The remaining fifteen A321neos in the SR variant, on the other hand, will be delivered in the following years.[24] However, PAL only received two A321neo SRs in 2019 as the airline revises its re-fleeting plan.[25]

The first six Airbus A321neos serve the airline's medium-haul and long-haul routes such as Guam, Singapore, Tokyo, Ho Chi Minh City, Sapporo and Brisbane,[26] while the other SR variants will be serving short-haul regional routes in Southeast Asia and other neighboring countries.[24]

Airbus A330

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The Airbus A330-300 is primarily deployed in Asia and Oceania routes. They are also deployed in US territories like Honolulu and Guam[27] and domestic destinations such as General Santos, Cebu and Davao.

Philippine Airlines introduced their first Airbus A330-300 on July 30, 1997, with the delivery of the first aircraft, F-OHZM. Philippine Airlines later acquired eight Airbus A330-300s as replacement for their aging Airbus A300B4 fleet's gradual retirement. On August 28, 2012, Philippine Airlines ordered 10 new Airbus Airbus A330-300s,[20] but the airline later expanded its orders to 20 on October 1.

The airline received its first A330-300 High Gross Variant (HGW)[21] in September 2013. The newer A330s use a pair of Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines, unlike the older General Electric CF6 engines that powered the earlier A330 fleet. The original fleet of eight A330s were transferred to PAL Express[28] until these were retired on August 31, 2014.[29]

Airbus A350

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The Airbus A350-900 is primarily deployed in the airline's long-haul flights to cities such as New York, Seattle, Toronto, and Vancouver. The A350s are also used in regional Asian flights during peak seasons or when there is high demand in destinations such as Seoul, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Sydney, Singapore, and Tokyo. PAL's A350s have a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 278 tonnes, enabling non-stop Manila-New York flights without payload limitations in either direction, a 7,404-nautical-mile (13,712 km; 8,520 mi) flight which began in October 2018.[30]

In April 2016, Philippine Airlines finalized the purchase agreement with Airbus covering the firm order of twelve A350-900s and six A350-1000s.[31] The contract firms up a memorandum of understanding announced during the 2016 Singapore Airshow in February 2016.[32] The A350-900s, which will have a three-class configuration, are scheduled to be deployed on new routes to North America and Europe. The A350-900s also replaced the aging Airbus A340-300s that serves North America and Asia.[33]

In February 2018, Jaime Bautista, then-president of the airline, stated that they were also interested in the larger Airbus A350-1000 variant.[34]

On July 14, 2018, PAL received its first A350-900.[35] In February 2019, Philippine Airlines took delivery of their fifth A350 with the iconic Love Bus decal to mark the 40th anniversary of their partnership with Airbus.[36]

On June 20, 2023, PAL ordered nine A350-1000s with an additional three purchase rights. Deliveries will start from the fourth quarter of 2025 until 2027. Like the A350-900, the A350-1000s will also be equipped with three classes of seats (business, premium economy, and economy).[15]

Boeing 777

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The Boeing 777-300ER is primarily used for long-haul flights to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Vancouver and Toronto. It was also used for service to London, and New York, but was later replaced by the A350-900. They are sometimes deployed in Asian and Australian routes as well if the demand needs it.[37]

On March 12, 2007, Philippine Airlines finalized the purchase agreement with Boeing covering the firm order of two Boeing 777-300ERs. It ordered two more three months later.[38] The purchase of Boeing 777s effectively signalled the end of the production of the original Boeing 747-400 variant. In 2009, the airline leased two Boeing 777-300ER to replace the former flagship Boeing 747-400 from GECAS.[39] The first Boeing 777 was delivered to PAL on November 19, 2009.[40] The airline currently has 9 777s in its fleet.[41]

In 2019, Philippine Airlines planned to acquire the next-generation Boeing 777X to gradually replace their aging Boeing 777 fleet.[42]

Historical fleet

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Historical fleet of Philippine Airlines
 
Boeing 737-300
 
Boeing 747-200B
 
Airbus A300B4
 
BAC One-Eleven 500
 
Airbus A340-200
 
NAMC YS-11
 
Hawker Siddeley HS 748
Aircraft Total Year Introduced Year Retired Replacement Notes Refs
Airbus A300B4 13 1979 2001 Airbus A330-300 [43]
Airbus A319-100 4 2006 2014
Airbus A340-200 4 1996 1999 None Leased from AFS. [44][45][33]
Airbus A340-300 4 1996 1997 None Leased from Gulf Air.
4 1997 2014 None
6 2013 2018 Airbus A350-900 Leased from AFS. Ex-Iberia aircraft.
Last A340-300 operator in Asia.
Armstrong Whitworth Argosy C.MK 1 1 1976 1981 None [46]
BAC One-Eleven 400 4 1966 1971 BAC One-Eleven 500
BAC One-Eleven 500 13 1971 1992 Boeing 737 Classic
Beech Model 18 2 1941 Un­known Douglas DC-3
Boeing 707 1 1960 Un­known Douglas DC-8
Boeing 727-100 2 1981 1984 Boeing 737 Classic
Boeing 727-200 2 1979 1981 Boeing 727-100
Boeing 737-300 15 1989 2008 Airbus A320-200 EI-BZG was destroyed by a fuel tank explosion. [47]
Boeing 737-400 3 2000 2007 Airbus A320-200
Boeing 747-200B 9 1979 2000 Boeing 747-400 First four aircraft (N741PR through N744PR) were configured with 14 "Skybed" berths on upper deck until the 1990s.[48] [49]
Boeing 747-200M 4 1988 1997 EI-BWF was damaged by a bomb in test run for Bojinka plot.
Boeing 747-400 4 1993 2014 Boeing 777-300ER RP-C7471 carried 1992-1998 Philippine president Fidel Valdez Ramos on its delivery flight.
Boeing 747-400M 1 1996 2014 Originally the second 747-400M of Kuwait Airways (registration 9K-ADF), which was cancelled by the intended airline in favor of Boeing 777's.
de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter 6 1955 Un­known Un­known Was primarily used for rural services in Mindanao (in-line with former president Magsaysay's policy) due to its STOL capabilities. Several were lost due to accidents. [50][51]
Convair CV-340 Un­known 1950s 1960s Un­known
Douglas DC-3 14 1946 1978 Un­known
Douglas DC-4 41 1946 Un­known Douglas DC-3
Douglas DC-6 2 1946 Un­known Douglas DC-8
Douglas DC-6B 1 1952 Un­known Douglas DC-8
Douglas DC-8 14 1962 1979 Airbus A300
Fokker F27 Friendship 18 1960 1967 Hawker Siddeley HS 748
Fokker 50 11 1988 1999 Airbus A320-200
Hawker Siddeley HS 748 21 1967 Un­known Un­known
McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 6 1974 1996 Boeing 747-200B[48],
McDonnell Douglas MD-11 		PH-DTC, PH-DTI, and PH-DTK were leased from KLM from 1974 to 1984. [52]
McDonnell Douglas MD-11CF 2 1996 1998 None Leased from World Airways. [53]
McDonnell Douglas MD-11ER 2
NAMC YS-11 12 1972 Un­known Un­known Ex-Filipinas Orient Airways aircraft.
Short 360-300 8 1987 Un­known Fokker 50 One crashed near to Iligan Airport.
Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer Un­known Un­known Un­known Un­known
Vickers Viscount 4 1959 Un­known NAMC YS-11A-600

Fleet maintenance

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Aircraft of Philippine Airlines parked next to the maintenance hangars of Lufthansa Technik Philippines

The entire Philippine Airlines fleet of Airbus and Boeing jets were formerly maintained in-house at the PAL Technical Center, which consisted of two hangars. The hangars contained an engine overhaul shop, two engine test cells, and test shops. The responsibility of maintaining the fleet, as well as all the facilities, was subsequently transferred in 2000 to Lufthansa Technik Philippines (LTP), a joint venture of Hamburg-based Lufthansa Technik AG, a leading maintenance provider in aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul, and Macro Asia Corporation, one of the Philippines' leading providers of aviation support services and catering for foreign airlines, owned by Lucio Tan, the majority owner of PAL.[54] LTP currently maintains an eight-bay hangar and workshops occupying 110,000 square meters (1,200,000 sq ft) at Ninoy Aquino International Airport.[54][55]

Currently all A320 including all A321 aircraft that are already delivered and those to be delivered are being maintained by Lufthansa. PAL Express is the budget arm of PAL and has overtaken PAL in 2012 in domestic seats second only to Cebu Pacific (5J).[56]

On May 18, 2018, Philippine Airlines signed a deal with Lufthansa Technik Philippines to maintain its new Airbus jets for 12 years. The deal, which took effect on May 31, is estimated to be worth P13.6 billion ($260 million) during its lifespan.[57]

References

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  1. ^ "PAL Fleet". Philippine Airlines. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  2. ^ "Orders and deliveries". Airbus. June 16, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  3. ^ "Philippine Airlines Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  4. ^ "Airbus A321ceo (International)". Philippine Airlines. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  5. ^ a b "PAL Unveils Domestic COMFORT CLASS". Philippine Airlines. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  6. ^ "Airbus A321ceo (Domestic)". Philippine Airlines. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  7. ^ "Airbus A321neo". Philippine Airlines. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  8. ^ Balinbin, Arjay L. (August 24, 2021). "PAL returns 2 planes, postpones new deliveries". BusinessWorld. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  9. ^ "Airbus A321neoSR". Philippine Airlines. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  10. ^ Camus, Miguel R. (February 19, 2022). "PAL reduces business seats, ditches premium economy". Inquirer. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  11. ^ "Airbus A330-300 (309 Seater)". Philippine Airlines. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  12. ^ "Airbus A330-300 (363 Seater Domestic)". Philippine Airlines. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  13. ^ "Airbus A330-300 (363 Seater International)". Philippine Airlines. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  14. ^ "Airbus A350-900". Philippine Airlines. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  15. ^ a b "Philippine Airlines finalises order for nine A350-1000s". Airbus (Press release). June 20, 2023.
  16. ^ "Philippine Airlines selects A350-1000 for future long haul fleet". www.philippineairlines.com. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  17. ^ a b Kaminski-Morrow, David (June 20, 2023). "Philippine Airlines to fit 10-abreast seating on A350-1000s". FlightGlobal.
  18. ^ "Boeing 777-300ER". Philippine Airlines. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  19. ^ "PAL Express Fleet Details and History". planespotters.net. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  20. ^ a b c Visconti, Katherine (August 28, 2012). "PAL orders 54 Airbus aircraft worth $7B". Rappler. Archived from the original on August 30, 2012. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
  21. ^ a b Wilson, Darryl (August 2013). "Philippine Airlines Accepts Delivery of First A321". Philippine Flight Network. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  22. ^ Delavin, Imee Charlee C. (June 16, 2017). "PAL defers delivery of A321NEO planes". BusinessWorld. Archived from the original on June 15, 2017. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  23. ^ Lumawag, Reuel John F. (June 3, 2018). "PAL receives first A321neo". Sunstar. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  24. ^ a b Valdez, Denise A. (September 2, 2019). "Philippine Airlines' A321neo SR to be used for regional flights". BusinessWorld. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  25. ^ "Philippine Airlines to take delivery 6 aircraft in 2019". www.philstar.com. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  26. ^ "PAL sustains 4-Star rating with major projects". Philippine Airlines. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  27. ^ "Philippine Airlines adds A330 Guam service in W18". Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  28. ^ Wilson, Darryl (September 2013). "Philippine Airlines Accepts Delivery of First New A330 Long Haul Aircraft". Philippine Flight Network. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  29. ^ "Philippine Airlines Permanently Retires Classic Airbus A330 Fleet". Philippine Flight Network. September 2014. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  30. ^ "PAL inaugurates non-stop New York to Manila flights". usa.inquirer.net. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  31. ^ "PAL finalizes purchase of 6 Airbus fleet". The Philippine Star. April 29, 2016. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  32. ^ Lucas, Daxim L. (February 18, 2016). "PAL orders six Airbus A350s in $1.8-B deal". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  33. ^ a b "A340 fleet: last Asian operator, Philippine Airlines, bows out". CAPA - Centre for Aviation. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  34. ^ Dela Paz, Chrisee (February 15, 2018). "PAL eyes Airbus A350-1000 as plane marks 1st touchdown in Manila". Rappler. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
  35. ^ "PICTURES: Philippine Airlines receives first A350-900". Flightglobal.com. July 14, 2018. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
  36. ^ "PAL's 5th A350: 'The Love Bus'". Philippine Airlines. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  37. ^ "Philippine Airlines launches B777". buyingbusinesstravel.com. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
  38. ^ "Philippine Airlines orders more Boeing 777-300ERs". Centre for Aviation. June 7, 2007. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  39. ^ "Boeing delivers first 777 to PAL". Australian Aviation. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  40. ^ "PAL takes delivery of RP's first Boeing 777". The Philippine Star. November 20, 2009. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  41. ^ "Philippine Airlines receives 10th Boeing 777-300ER from Aviation PLC". Travel Daily Media. December 19, 2017. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  42. ^ Singh, Jay (June 8, 2019). "Philippine Airlines Eyes 2 Boeing 777X Aircraft". Simple Flying. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  43. ^ "Philippine Airlines Fleet of A300 (History) | Airfleets aviation". www.airfleets.net. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  44. ^ "Philippine Airlines Fleet of A340 (History) | Airfleets aviation". www.airfleets.net. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  45. ^ "Philippine Airlines A340 (RP-C3438)".
  46. ^ "Will Philippine Airlines ever bring back the PAL Freighter?". AIRTRAVELLER PH. May 10, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  47. ^ "Philippine Airlines Fleet of B737 (History) | Airfleets aviation". www.airfleets.net. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  48. ^ a b The Flight Detective (March 12, 2022). "Wait, what?! Philippine Airlines had actual beds upstairs on the Boeing 747?". TravelUpdate.
  49. ^ "Philippine Airlines Fleet of B747 (History) | Airfleets aviation". www.airfleets.net. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  50. ^ "THE PHILIPPINE AIRLINES DE HAVILLAND DHC-3 OTTER". Facebook. Mond Aviation Shop. November 1, 2021.
  51. ^ goriob2010 (September 12, 2013). "1955 0706 PAL DHC-3 Otter Mindanao Rural Service". Flickr. Philippine Herald.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  52. ^ "Philippine Airlines Fleet of DC10 (History) | Airfleets aviation". www.airfleets.net. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  53. ^ "Philippine Airlines Fleet of MD11 (History) | Airfleets aviation". www.airfleets.net. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  54. ^ a b "Key Facts - Lufthansa Technik Philippines". www.lht-philippines.com. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  55. ^ "Facility - Lufthansa Technik Philippines". www.lht-philippines.com. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  56. ^ Lufthansa Technik Philippines, archived from the original on June 22, 2008, retrieved April 22, 2008
  57. ^ "Philippine Airlines taps Lufthansa Technik for Airbus maintenance". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
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