PAL marks 85th birthday with A350-1000 delivery 

Philippine Airlines has recently celebrated a milestone 85th birthday, marking the day in 1941 when the airline first launched services. That was March 15 of ’41 – early days for commercial aviation – and fledgling PAL took to the sky from Nielson Field in Makati (Manila) with an 11-seat, twin-engine Beechcraft 18.

Compare that to the airline’s latest commercial jet acquisition – the giant Airbus A350-1000, the largest variant of the A350 series, and the one with the ability to fly the furthest. It is the first A350-1000 operating from South East Asia at the moment, and it wears “85 Years” markings on its body.

Within are up to 400-plus seats, depending on the configuration. The new aircraft features an advanced air pressurization system that simulates a lower cabin altitude, which reduces fatigue and altitude-related discomforts.

At 85 years of age, PAL is the oldest continuously-operating airline in Asia. But a few years ago, there was some doubt if PAL would make it to that significant age. In 2022, PAL was stricken with debt and staring down chapter 11 bankruptcy, its margins weakened by the impacts of the pandemic.

PAL has since reversed that trajectory and today the airline is setting a competitive pace as the most punctual airline in the Asia-Pacific region (as reported by aviation data firm Cirium). It has signaled this transformation with the acquisition of the US$300-million-plus A350-1000, which will help the airline achieve its goal of ultra long-haul efficiency, said PAL’s president Lucio Tan III.

During an address early in 2026, Tan III said the pandemic was “a defining moment that forced us to confront difficult questions about responsibility and purpose.”

One of the answers is the A350-1000, which has been deployed to PAL’s most far-flung destination, in order to maximize its capacity for long-haul fuel efficiencies. That destination is New York JFK.

 “The decision was to use it for New York City because it has the longest flying time (from Manila), so we will benefit from the highest fuel cost savings,” said Allan Coo, the manager of PAL international sales in Canada. The new jet offers a 25% reduction in fuel burn as compared to previous-generation aircraft. It is capable of flying a distance of up to 16,700 km.

“We are expecting four to five more A350-1000s to be delivered from June until the end of this year,” said Coo. Toronto will be next destination for a PAL A350-1000 to service in North America, given that it is the next furthest location from Manila after New York City, he said. “After Toronto, they will consider a destination on the West coast,” said Coo. PAL will receive a total of nine A350-1000s through 2028.

Captions for photos

TOP

Flight crew aboard the PAL B777-300 ER now serving the Vancouver-Manila route.

MIDDLE

The PAL B777-300 ER parked at Vancouver YVR.

BOTTOM

Philippine Airlines aircraft parked at the international terminal at Ninoy Aquino Airport in Manila.