Philippine Airlines Awaits Delivery of A321 Aircraft

Photo Copyright: Airbus

The countdown is on as Philippine Airlines anxiously awaits the arrival of its first of 44 Airbus A321 aircraft that it ordered last August 2012. The order is composed of 34 A321ceo aircraft and 10 A321neo aircraft. NEO stands for new engine option and Airbus is claiming that the new engines on these aircraft will result in a 16% reduction of fuel burned. 

In a leaked internal memo, Philippine Airlines announced the delivery schedule of its initial A321 aircraft:

• AUGUST 2013: 
• Two Aircraft (Registrations: RP-C9901, RP-C9902)
• OCTOBER 2013: 
• Three Aircraft (Registrations: RP-C9903, RP-C9905, RP-C9906)
• NOVEMBER 2013: 
• One Aircraft (Registration: RP-C9907) 

The arrival of the A321 is just the beginning of what will be a massive refleeting program where Philippine Airlines will seek to acquire up to 100 new aircraft in an attempt to phase out ageing aircraft and expand its network. Twenty A330-300 aircraft were also ordered as part of the A321 order from Airbus. No delivery schedule for the A330 aircraft has been released yet but eight are expected this year. PAL is also contemplating a new order for additional long-haul aircraft of which the Boeing 777X and Airbus A350 are rumoured to be contenders. 

Copyright Photo: Bullit Marquez/AP