Philippine Airlines (PR, Manila Ninoy Aquino International) is evaluating an order for up to 20 widebody aircraft to replace older A330-300s and B777-300ERs, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the discussions.
The Philippine flag carrier, which recently announced plans to join Oneworld by mid-2027, is reportedly considering the B787 as well as the A330neo and A350 families, although no decision has been made on a manufacturer or aircraft type.
The sources also said Philippine Airlines does not intend to order the B777X because the aircraft is considered too large for operations at Manila Ninoy Aquino International.
ch-aviation has requested comment from Philippine Airlines, Airbus, and Boeing.
Right-sizing the fleet
Speaking at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, president Richard Nuttall said capacity constraints at the Philippines’ main gateway were encouraging the airline to focus on larger aircraft and additional long-haul services.
“What it really means is that we’re concentrating more on increasing the size of our aircraft and operating more intercontinental flights,” he said.
Philippine Airlines and regional subsidiary PAL Express collectively operate eighteen A320-200s, twenty-two A321-200s, six A321-200Ns, two A321-200NX, eleven A330-300s, two A350-900s, two A350-1000s, ten B777-300ERs, and eleven DHC-8-Q400s.
Per ch-aviation data, the flag carrier has outstanding orders for seven A350-1000s and thirteen A321-200NX aircraft. According to Nuttall, deliveries of the narrowbody aircraft have slipped from their original schedules.
Philippine Airlines temporarily reduced capacity by 15% and deferred approximately USD100 million in capital expenditure as it prioritises cash management amid elevated fuel prices, although Nuttall said the deferral is temporary.