The flag carrier unveiled on Tuesday the first of 18 retrofitted jets, now equipped with Collins Aerospace Pinnacle seats manufactured at its Batangas plant by Filipino workers, a first for the flag carrier.
What’s new?
Business class passengers will now have up to 45 inches of legroom compared to 37 inches before, while recline has been extended to 10 inches from 6, allowing a deeper and more comfortable seat.
Economy class holds steady at a 30-inch pitch and 5-inch recline, but now every seat comes with its own inflight entertainment screen and USB charging port.
Across both cabins, the addition of in-seat screens marks a leap in the passenger experience, standardizing PAL’s regional product.
Multi-year retrofit
The retrofit program will run through 2027, starting with three jets this year, nine in 2026, and the balance the following year.
All 18 reconfigured A321ceos will be deployed on regional international routes across ASEAN, Greater China, Japan, South Korea, and Guam.
PAL has accepted its first refurbished A321ceo (RP-C9905) after a retrofit at Lufthansa Technik Philippines, with its inaugural flight set for Sept. 24 to Tokyo Haneda and Bali.
Less capacity, more comfort
The refresh trims overall capacity to 194 from 199 seats, with five seats removed to give more room up front.
“The reconfigured cabin was designed not only for greater passenger comfort but also for operational efficiency,” said Bud Britanico, PAL vice president for corporate affairs.
He added the uniform layout makes it easier to swap aircraft, redeploy jets, or adjust during maintenance.
The updated A321ceos feature 12 business class seats while economy retains a 3-3 layout but now comes with 10.1-inch screens and USB charging at every seat.
Philippine-made seats
“This cabin retrofit program reflects PAL’s vision of world-class excellence and heartfelt care,” said PAL vice president for marketing Alvin Miranda.
“At the core of this undertaking is the dedicated craftsmanship showcased by Filipino workers in the manufacture of aircraft seats and the reconfiguration of the cabin in the Philippines.”
Apart from the 18 refurbished A321ceos, PAL is also set to receive nine brand-new A350-1000s and 13 A321neo NX jets as part of its fleet renewal.
—Edited by Miguel R. Camus
