Philippine Airlines Takes First A321 Delivery







7 August 2013

Philippine Airlines (PAL) has taken delivery of its first Airbus A321.  The aircraft was handed over at the Airbus delivery centre in Hamburg, Germany yesterday and is the first of 64 new Airbus aircraft ordered by the airline in 2012 under a major fleet modernisation programme.  These include 44 single aisle A321s and 20 widebody A330s.

Philippine Airlines has specified a two class layout for its A321s, with 12 seats in Business Class and 187 in Economy.  The airline will operate its new A321s primarily on international routes across the Asian region, as well as on selected domestic flights.

“We are excited about the A321 not only because its size fit our expansion plans, but the flexibility it gives us in matching the aircraft to specific route requirements is tremendous,” said Ramon Ang, President and CEO, Philippine Airlines.  “With the A321 we will be able to add capacity without compromising comfort, offering our passengers a choice between full premium class and a great range of value fares.”

The A321 joins an Airbus fleet at Philippine Airlines that already includes 22 A320 Family aircraft flying on domestic and regional routes, as well as nine in service with its budget subsidiary PAL Express.  The carrier also operates eight widebody A330s on higher capacity routes across Asia and seven A340-300s on its longest services to the United States.

Following the introduction of the A321, Philippine Airlines will take delivery of the first of its 20 new A330s in the third quarter of the year.  The carrier is also currently adding four A340-300s to its fleet for deployment on new non-stop services to Europe, scheduled to begin next month.

9 comments:

  1. is the a321 intended for PAL only or with pal express also?
    and i want to clarify? is the 8 out of the 20 a330s on order will go to pal express??? ty ;)

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    1. it is only for PAL

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    2. the current 8 will go to pal express

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  2. Replies
    1. As per Airbus, the A321 CEO sharklets will be available starting September. Let's hope PAL's A321 deliveries starting September will include them.

      http://www.airbus.com/newsevents/news-events-single/detail/another-sharklet-equipped-a320-family-member-earns-easa-certification/

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  3. Its CEO model.intended and efficient for short haul flights...
    the NEO model is the one with sharklets..for delivery i think 2017 pa..intended for medium haul flights..
    the old 330 those 8 old 330 will go to PAL express but still will operATE under PAL coz it will be used for high Asian/regional routes and demands mostly Japan, china, thailand and south korea..
    the new 330's which are HGW model..will be utilized for Middle East, OCEANa and some EU flights...probabaly Vancouver also and toronto since the new 330's can fly up to vancouver..and toronto flights have a stop over in vancouver.

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  4. Do the pal a321 have ife? Pal has premium economy on it right?

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  5. Sharklets are offered as on option to A321 CEOs....

    http://www.airbus.com/newsevents/news-events-single/detail/another-sharklet-equipped-a320-family-member-earns-easa-certification/

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  6. I thought 8 Airbus A330-300 will be delivered for Philippine Airlines this September for Middle East flights. Why it becomes only 1? So that is why Doha and Jeddah are postponed.

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