Philippine Airlines’ new Airbus A350-1000: What’s onboard and where it will fly
December 22, 2025
Philippine Airlines has just taken delivery of its first Airbus A350-1000 twin-aisle widebody. The aircraft is the first of nine of the type that the carrier has on order to modernise its long-haul fleet and expand its reach. It is also the first of its type in Southeast Asia.
With the new aircraft comes a refreshed cabin interior and upgraded passenger experience, as the carrier seeks to remain competitive against its rivals.
Philippine Airlines receives its first Airbus A350-1000
On 22 December, Philippine Airlines took delivery of its first ultra-long-haul A350-1000 jet, taking the Manila-based carrier to the next stage of its modernisation and development strategy. The delivery makes Philippine Airlines the 10th airline worldwide to operate the largest version of the A350.
With a further eight examples of the type set to join the company’s fleet, the aircraft joins a pair of smaller A350-900s already in service with Philippine Airlines on routes to the US, which joined the airline in 2018 and 2019, respectively.
While the -900s accommodate 295 passengers in a three-class configuration, this will be extended to 382 passengers in the A350-1000, an increase in seating capacity of almost 30% overall.
PAL has nine A350-1000s on order in total, plus options for a further three aircraft. The first five are due for delivery throughout 2026, while three more will arrive in 2027.
According to a Philippine Airlines statement, the latest aircraft “will 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.”
“The addition of the A350-1000 further strengthens the airline’s widebody fleet strategy to grow long-haul capacity while enhancing overall travel experience and operational reliability,” added the statement.
Advantages of introducing the Airbus A350-1000
Philippine Airlines continued by stating that its new A350-1000 is the world’s most modern widebody aircraft, which sets a new standard in intercontinental travel. The A350-1000 boasts a reduction of 25% advantage in fuel burn over its closest rival while also offering reduced operating costs and carbon dioxide emissions, compared to previous generation competitor aircraft.
Southeast Asia’s first Airbus A350-1000 arrives in the Philippines from Toulouse, France on Saturday, December 20, as the first of nine aircraft for the Philippine flag carrier’s Ultra Long Haul Fleet project, set to operate non-stop flights from Manila to North America,… pic.twitter.com/IaHmgxHcUA
— Manila Bulletin News (@manilabulletin) December 20, 2025
The first aircraft, registered as RP-C3510, left the manufacturer’s final assembly plant in Toulouse (France) on 19 December and flew as flight PAL5510 direct to Philippine Airlines’ main hub at Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL). The aircraft landed at 16:46 local time on 20 December after its 14-hour and 19-minute delivery flight.
“The arrival of the A350-1000 marks a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to fleet modernisation and network growth,” said Kyle Tan, President of PAL Holdings, the parent company of Philippine Airlines.
“It will be a source of Filipino pride and a transformational step for our airline,” he added.
Where Philippine Airlines will fly its new Airbus A350-1000
According to the airline, the ultra-long-range jets will connect Manila to key destinations in the United States. Destinations previously highlighted by the carrier include New York, Los Angeles, Seattle and San Francisco. Flights to cities in Canada could follow, along with the potential for new routes to Europe.
Along with its North American flights, the first A350-1000 is tipped to appear on a handful of regional routes within Asia, allowing crews to become familiar with the type while also operating ‘live’ revenue passenger services.
According to Aeroroutes news, Philippine Airlines will begin services with its latest fleet addition on 30 December, operating a rotation between Manila and Bangkok in Thailand.
Following that, it will begin operating the airline’s three-times-weekly flagship service between Manila and New York-JFK Airport from 6 January 2026, replacing the carrier’s A350-900 currently serving the route.
The route is 8,520 nautical miles (15,678 km) in length and takes around fifteen hours to complete. Dispersed between the flights to New York, the aircraft has been scheduled to operate short-haul sectors to Hong Kong (HKG), Bangkok (BKK) and Singapore on certain dates throughout January 2026.
The passenger experience on the A350-1000
Each of the new Philippine Airlines A350-1000s will feature Airbus’ signature long-haul ‘Airspace’ cabin and will incorporate state-of-the-art technologies throughout its interior design to enhance the passenger experience, said the airline.
The carrier will operate its newest aircraft type in a three-class layout incorporating 42 lie-flat business class suites, 24 premium economy seats and 316 in economy class.
As reported by Executive Traveller magazine, the 42 private business class suites allow passengers to be enclosed behind 1.2m (46”) walls and a sliding privacy door in a 1-2-1 cabin layout.
The seat (Collins Aerospace’s Elevation) is almost identical to the new British Airways suite currently being installed on that carrier’s A350 and Boeing 787 fleets. All seats are forward-facing.
Each business class suite will also feature a 20” 4K video screen and a plethora of device charging options, including AC, USB-A, USB-C and wireless charging facilities, all within easy access of the occupant.
In the premium economy cabin, all passengers have the advantage of large 4K video screens with USB-C power. The cabin is configured in a 2-4-2 layout, with each premium economy seat being 19” wide with a 7” recline and 38” of pitch. These are paired with supportive calf-rests and extendable foot-rests.
In economy class, the cabin features 316 economy seats in a (sometimes contentious) 3-4-3 layout. Economy passengers have the benefit of a 4K video screen with handy USB charge sockets and an integrated mobile device stand for propping up phones or tablets. Each of the economy seats is 16.5” wide, with a 32” pitch and 6” recline.
Further cabin refurbishments are on the cards for Philippine Airlines
With the introduction of the A350-100s with their new interiors, Philippine Airlines has announced a plan to upgrade the cabins on its ten Boeing 777-300ERs, which form the backbone of the carrier’s long-haul fleet, as well as a refresh of the cabins on its 11 Airbus A330s used for regional routes.
At a recent aviation forum held in Manila, the airline’s CEO Richard Nuttall told reporters that while further cabin refurbishments are on the way, this process will not begin until at least 2027, once more seats become available from the manufacturers.
Featured image: Airbus
