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Philippine Airlines is acquiring an additional nine Airbus A350-1000 aircraft and ordered 18 Trent XWB-97 engines from Rolls-Royce to power these aircraft
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PAL signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus for the nine A350-1000 aircraft, with purchase rights for five more
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PAL expects this second batch of Airbus A350-1000 orders to be delivered from 2034 to 2036
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Two of the first batch of nine A350-1000 ordered in 2023 have been delivered
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PAL also signed an MOU with Rolls-Royce for 18 Trent XWB-97 engines to power the nine additional Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, as well as engines for up to five more aircraft covered by PAL’s purchase rights
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An agreement for Rolls-Royce’s TotalCare service, which will cover the health and maintenance program of the fleet, was also signed
Philippine Airlines (PAL) is acquiring an additional nine Airbus A350-1000 aircraft and has ordered 18 Trent XWB-97 engines from Rolls-Royce to power these aircraft.
PAL signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Airbus for the acquisition of the nine additional A350-1000 aircraft, with purchase rights for five more, reinforcing the flag carrier’s commitment to long-haul growth and fleet modernization.
Delivery is expected from 2034 to 2036.
The new order will increase PAL’s A350-1000 fleet, with an initial nine of the aircraft contracted in 2023. The first unit was delivered December 2025 and a second arrived in June this year. The remaining seven from the first batch are expected to be delivered by 2028.
“The A350-1000 will continue to define the future of our international operations for many years to come,” PAL parent firm PAL Holdings, Inc. president and chief operating officer Lucio C. Tan III said in a statement.
“As the first and currently the only airline in Southeast Asia to operate the Airbus A350-1000, Philippine Airlines has experienced firsthand the aircraft’s exceptional range, fuel efficiency, reliability, and passenger comfort. It has expanded our reach across North America, while delivering the world-class travel experience our customers deserve,” Tan added.
PAL currently operates the two Airbus A350-1000 on key long-haul routes, including nonstop flights from Manila to New York and Toronto.
“We are proud that PAL is strongly expanding its A350-1000 flagship fleet, flying the flag of the Philippines across the world,” said Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, executive vice president-Sales of Airbus Commercial Aircraft.
He added: “This agreement marks an important milestone in deepening our partnership with Philippine Airlines. Being the long-range leader, the A350-1000 is the perfect platform for the airline to build its future long-haul network and meet continued growth, especially in competitive premium transpacific markets. We look forward to finalizing this new order soon.”
Configured in a three-class layout, PAL’s A350-1000 offers a premium onboard experience featuring business class suites with privacy doors, a dedicated premium economy cabin, and an enhanced economy class product, complemented by the latest inflight entertainment and connectivity systems.
The aircraft also supports PAL’s sustainability objectives. The A350-1000 incorporates advanced composite materials and next-generation aerodynamics, delivering significant reductions in fuel consumption and carbon emissions compared with previous-generation aircraft.
The purchase rights for five additional aircraft provide PAL with flexibility to support future fleet requirements and market opportunities.
Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines
Another MOU was signed with Rolls-Royce for 18 Trent XWB-97 engines to power the nine additional Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, as well as engines for up to five more aircraft covered by PAL’s purchase rights.
An agreement for Rolls-Royce’s TotalCare service, which will cover the health and maintenance program of the fleet, has also been signed.
The Trent XWB-97, the exclusive engine for the Airbus A350-1000, is known for exceptional fuel efficiency, reliability and environmental performance.
“This investment manifests our confidence in the future of Philippine Airlines. Together, the Airbus A350-1000 and the Trent XWB-97 engine will continue to define our flagship long-haul operations for many years to come,” Tan said.
“Our TotalCare agreement complements this investment by providing comprehensive maintenance support that helps maximize fleet availability while giving us greater confidence in long-term maintenance planning and cost predictability,” he added.
Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace president Rob Watson noted the Trent XWB-97 is an exceptional engine, renowned for its proven reliability and efficiency, making it our best-selling engine over the past 18 months.
“Combined with the comprehensive operational support provided by TotalCare, this order will enable Philippine Airlines to maximize their operational performance as they continue expanding their A350-1000 fleet,” Watson said.
Aside from Airbus and Rolls-Royce, PAL also signed an MOU with Boeing for the acquisition of 15 fuel-efficient 787-10 Dreamliner jets, with an option for five more, and another MOU with GE Aerospace for the GEnx-1B engines that will power the 15 Dreamliners, including purchase rights for an additional five.
All these MOUs were announced during the Farnborough International Airshow in the United Kingdom that PAL officials attended.
