15 July, 2018

Philippine Airlines welcomes first Airbus A350

During a special ceremony in Toulouse, France, Jaime J. Bautista, President & COO of Philippine Airlines cut the ribbon and took delivery of the airlines first A350 XWB.

Philippine Airlines has ordered six A350-900s, which it intends to use mainly on routes to North America and Europe and is the  19th airline to operate the world’s most modern and efficient long range airliner.  Currently, the longest route Philippine Airlines operates is Manila to New York, a distance of over 8,000 miles and takes around 17 hours and previously needed a technical stop in Vancouver, however, thanks to the A350, the carrier will now be able to operate the route with no stops!

Philippine Airlines has decided to configure its A350-900s in a three-class arrangement, 30 seats that convert to fully flat beds in Business Class, 24 seats offering extra space in Premium Economy and 241 18-inch wide seats in the main economy cabin.  One of the many features on the A350 is the Airspace by Airbus cabin, with more personal space and full connectivity throughout. The cabin is the quietest of any twin aisle aircraft and features the latest mood lighting and air conditioning systems. Higher humidity levels and a lower cabin altitude all contribute to added well-being on board, especially for long range flights.

“The arrival of the A350 XWB will see PAL offer new levels of comfort on our long haul flights,” said Jaime J. Bautista, President & COO of Philippine Airlines. “At the same time we will benefit from the A350 XWB’s new generation efficiency, with a significant reduction in fuel consumption and lower maintenance costs. We believe that the A350 XWB will be a game changer for PAL as we compete with the best in the premium long haul market.”

“We are pleased to welcome Philippine Airlines as the latest operator of the A350 XWB,” said Eric Schulz, Chief Commercial Officer, Airbus. “The A350 XWB has set new standards for long haul flights, combining extra-long range capability with the lowest possible operating costs and the highest standards of comfort. We are confident that the A350 XWB will be a great success with Philippine Airlines and will enable the airline to reinforce its position as one of Asia’s leading international carriers.”

The A350 XWB is an all-new family of mid-size widebody long-haul airliners shaping the future of air travel. The A350 XWB features the latest aerodynamic design, carbon fibre fuselage and wings, plus new fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce engines. Together, these latest technologies translate into unrivalled levels of operational efficiency, with a 25 per cent reduction in fuel consumption and significantly lower maintenance costs.

At the end of June 2018, Airbus has recorded 882 firm orders for the A350 XWB from 46 customers worldwide, already making it one of the most successful widebody aircraft ever. 182 A350 XWBs have been delivered to 19 airlines worldwide.

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