This year’s edition proved especially significant for Philippine Airlines, which unveiled a series of major fleet and technology agreements that will shape the flag carrier’s long-haul operations for years to come.
Building the next generation of the fleet
The week opened with PAL’s commitment to acquire up to 20 Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners, its first Boeing aircraft order in nearly two decades, followed by an agreement with GE Aerospace for the GEnx-1B engines that will power the new fleet.
The Boeing 787-10s are scheduled for delivery between 2031 and 2034, supporting the airline’s next phase of international expansion with more fuel-efficient and lower-emission aircraft.
On the second day, PAL announced the acquisition of nine additional Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, with purchase rights for five more, alongside a Rolls-Royce agreement for Trent XWB-97 engines and TotalCare maintenance support.
The additional A350-1000s, expected between 2034 and 2036, will strengthen PAL’s flagship long-haul fleet, which already operates nonstop flights from Manila to New York and Toronto, while giving the airline greater flexibility to expand its premium long-haul network.
Behind the handshakes
Between the signings, PAL Holdings president and COO Lucio C. Tan III, Philippine Airlines president Richard Nuttall and COO Carlos Luis L. Fernandez met with senior leaders from Boeing, Airbus, GE Aerospace, Rolls-Royce and ANA Holdings, including Boeing president and CEO Kelly Ortberg and ANA Holdings representative director, president and EO Koji Shibata, whose group is a minority shareholder in PAL Holdings.
These images offered a rare look at the executives, partnerships and negotiations shaping Philippine Airlines’ future fleet.
—Edited by Miguel R. Camus
