Camille Naredo

Article (news)

Airbus A350-1000

Job Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA (<strong>2nd UPDATE</strong>) – The Philippine Airlines&#x27; (PAL) Airbus A350-1000 finally arrived in the Philippines this Saturday afternoon – considered the first aircraft of its kind in Southeast Asia. </p><p>The Airbus, which was carrying PAL executives when it arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1, departed in Toulouse, France around 2:28 A.M today (MNL time). </p><p>Lucio Tan III, president of PAL Holdings Inc, was among the first passengers of the aircraft. </p><div><strong></strong></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-1&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=2002300792334905445&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2025-12-20T05%3A40%3A26.689639%3A2292288d-d0e8-4014-9d21-46cecdbcb9e0%26action%3Dview&amp;sessionId=3ec469c5169c61e4efe62cfea58f87dc820a6e34&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:550px;height:696px;display:block;flex-grow:1" data-tweet-id="2002300792334905445"></iframe></div><p>It landed at the NAIA Terminal 1 at 4:43 p.m and was quickly given a water cannon salute – an aviation tradition that signifies good luck.</p><p>PAL said the plane offers three travel classes for all types of passengers – business, premium economy, and economy – accommodating around 382 passengers. The airline bought 9 of its variant, according to an earlier release. </p><p>Five A350-1000s will arrive in the Philippines by 2026, according to PAL. Other aircrafts will arrive in 2027. </p><p>Carlos Luis Fernandez, PAL&#x27;s executive vice president and chief operating officer, had said they selected the A350-1000 due to its &quot;flexibility to balance demand with capacity.&quot; </p><p>&quot;The new-generation aircraft are central to responding to the demands of our growing market, regionally and internationally,&quot; said Fernandez in June. </p><p>The aircraft is also known for its capacity to operate during longer routes, PAL said.</p><p>Aside from the expected arrival of 8 more A350-1000s, PAL said it was also set to receive 13 brand new units of  A321neo regional jets in 2026 – supposedly capable of maximum comfort during regional flights. </p><p>PAL said it can fly up to 9,000 nautical miles or 16,700 kilometers, doing away with connecting flights. </p><p>Among the long-haul flights it will introduce includes those in Canada, Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco. It is expected to begin the long-haul flights by the first quarter of 2026. </p><p>The aircraft, PAL said, also burns 25 percent less fuel, capable with advanced aerodynamics and high-thrust engine in service. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/12/4/pal-to-start-flying-from-manila-to-palau-in-march-1624">PAL to start flying from Manila to Palau in March</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bz0FtnDP7zQ?si=Ym77ixYQshsJJGDS" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>The Philippine Airlines' (PAL) Airbus A350-1000 finally arrived in the Philippines this Saturday afternoon – considered the first aircraft of its kind in Southeast Asia.</p>

The Philippine Airlines' (PAL) Airbus A350-1000 finally arrived in the Philippines this Saturday afternoon – considered the first aircraft of its kind in Southeast Asia.

First in Southeast Asia: PAL’s Airbus A350-1000 arrives in Philippines

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First in Southeast Asia: PAL’s Airbus A350-1000 arrives in Philippines

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published December 20, 2025 04:59 PM PHT

|

Updated December 20, 2025 10:42 PM PHT

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Philippine Airlines

A350-1000

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Airbus A350-1000

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