Philippine Airlines Deploys New Airbus A350-1000 on San
Philippine Airlines is using its newly delivered Airbus A350-1000 aircraft to replace Boeing 777-300ERs on its ultra-long-haul San Francisco service.
Philippine Airlines (PAL) has taken delivery of its fourth Airbus A350-1000. The aircraft is now operating on the carrier's route to San Francisco, gradually displacing the Boeing 777-300ER on the 15-hour Pacific crossing. The A350-1000 has become the airline's flagship aircraft for ultra-long-haul operations.
The airline first ordered nine A350-1000s in 2023. This order came less than two years after PAL emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Four of these aircraft have now been delivered. In July 2026, the carrier placed a follow-up order for another nine, bringing its total commitment to 18 A350-1000s. The new planes are being used to restore capacity cut after the pandemic, primarily on existing routes rather than launching new services.
Crucially, the Boeing 777-300ER fleet is not being retired. The airline states these aircraft are relatively young and capable. The A350-1000s are being used for network growth, while the 777s are expected to remain in the fleet long-term and will be retrofitted with new interiors.
Cabin Configuration and Product
The A350-1000 features Philippine Airlines' latest cabin interiors. Business class is equipped with the Collins Aerospace Elevation seat, a reverse herringbone lie-flat model with direct aisle access and a sliding door. Premium economy uses the Collins Aerospace MiQ seat, while economy class is fitted with the ZIM ZP230 model. The new aircraft have large screens and USB-C ports.
The aircraft has one of the densest configurations for the A350 type globally, with a total of 382 seats spread across three cabins. This high density is achieved by installing ten-abreast seating in economy, a layout previously only used by budget carriers French bee and Air Caraïbes on the A350.
| Cabin Class | Seat Manufacturer | Number of Seats |
|---|---|---|
| Business | Collins Aerospace Elevation | 42 |
| Premium Economy | Collins Aerospace MiQ | 24 |
| Economy | ZIM ZP230 | 316 |
Fleet Strategy and Route Deployment
The A350-1000's significant fuel efficiency advantage over the 777-300ER makes it the preferred choice for Philippine Airlines' longest routes. The type currently flies to New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), in addition to San Francisco. The JFK and YYZ routes are the airline's two longest services.
The displaced Boeing 777-300ERs are being shifted to other high-volume routes. They currently serve Vancouver, Los Angeles, and, on some days, San Francisco. Within Asia, the 777 flies to Bangkok and Shanghai. In a competitive move, PAL also began deploying the 777-300ER on its nonstop service to Riyadh in June, alongside Airbus A330s. This was reportedly a response to Riyadh Air launching its own Manila service this September.
Future Growth with New Aircraft
Philippine Airlines plans significant long-haul growth with its 18 A350-1000s flying alongside ten Boeing 777s and two A350-900s. The airline is increasing frequencies to New York, Vancouver, and Toronto. It will launch a new service to Chicago O'Hare in November using an A350-900.
The carrier also plans to retire its fleet of 11 Airbus A330-300 aircraft. These will be replaced by 15 firm orders for Boeing 787-10s, with five additional options. PAL has further outstanding orders for 13 Airbus A321neos. The only aircraft type scheduled for retirement in the near future is the A330-300, which the airline says will permit systemwide expansion.
