BIZ BUZZ: One A350-1000 down, eight to go
Some 28 years after tycoon Lucio Tan stood in Toulouse, France, to accept an A340-300, his grandson Lucio Tan III had his own moment, formally accepting Philippine Airlines’ (PAL) A350-1000, the first for the flag carrier and also the first in Southeast Asia.
“The A350-1000 represents progress and ambition. It strengthens our network, elevates the experience we offer our passengers, and supports our continued focus on operational excellence and service consistency,” the younger Tan said in a speech before the A350-1000 flew to the Philippines, “Our recent gains in reliability, customer satisfaction, and global recognition affirm that we are moving in the right direction—driven by the dedication of our people.”
Airbus is likewise ecstatic over the delivery of the A350-1000, which made PAL the 10th airline to operate the largest version of the long-range leader.
Airbus said that PAL’s latest plane is configured in a premium three-class layout with 382 seats, and is expected to “open a new chapter in Philippine Airlines’ long haul operations across the Pacific. The A350-1000’s advanced efficiency will enable the national carrier to expand its transpacific network with non-stop services to major destinations in North America.”
But PAL is just getting started, as the plane that arrived just in time for Christmas is just the first of nine A350-1000s that Philippine Airlines will receive as part of its fleet expansion program.
The new aircraft will join the airline’s existing A350-900s already in service to expand routes to the United States, which is one of the most important markets for PAL.
As with all Airbus aircraft, the A350 aircraft is already able to operate with up to 50 percent Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
Airbus wants to have its aircraft up to 100% SAF capable by 2030.
At the end of November 2025, the A350 Family had won nearly 1,500 orders from 66 customers worldwide, including PAL, which is looking forward to an even better year in 2026.
