MANILA – Inflight comfort and luxury are redefined with Philippine Airlines’ (PAL) brand-new Airbus A350-900 XWB and A321neo airplanes. Generous legroom, enhanced entertainment, and high-speed Wi-Fi connectivity await passengers across all travel classes beginning July 2018.
“PAL aims to provide excellent standards of service for its passengers throughout the entire travel experience and be at par with the world’s best airlines. We are taking our flights to the next level by modernizing our fleet and enhancing our cabin amenities and inflight offerings, on top of ensuring that we consistently provide that distinct brand of heartfelt service PAL is known for,” said PAL President and COO Dr. Jaime J. Bautista.
“The arrival of the Airbus A350 and A321neo forms part of our journey towards attaining our goal of being the only 5-Star airline in the next few years from our 4-Star global airline rating.”, he added.
In partnership with airline design specialist LIFT Strategic Design, PAL equipped the new planes with both function and form in mind, promising an enhanced passenger experience.
“With state-of-the-art modifications based on the latest technologies, these new aircraft will bring more benefits not only to passengers and crew but to the environment as well,” said Bautista.
Here are four things you can expect from PAL’s brand-new planes:
A Whole New World of Flights
These planes unlock PAL’s true potential with the new long-range aircraft capable of flying non-stop, up to 17 hours for the A350 and up to 8 hours for the A321neo.
The new A350 will open a whole new world of access to long-haul destinations in North America and Europe. Starting October 2018, passengers can enjoy travelling to New York City nonstop for the first time in ultimate comfort and style with the introduction of the A350’s Tri-Class cabin experience. The A321neo, on the other hand, has commenced non-stop flights to Brisbane last July 2nd and will soon explore Sydney, Port Moresby, and Sapporo.
Space for Days (Or hours)
The new A350 and A321neo pack an impressive space in the cabin so that every passenger, regardless of class of service, enjoys the maximum comfort possible during the flight. These new aircraft also feature an innovative cabin layout and seat design.
Business Class passengers aboard the A321neo can enjoy full-flat seats up that extend up to 78 inches, a first in PAL’s narrow-body fleet and a first for A321neos worldwide. Meanwhile, all Business Class passengers aboard the A350 have direct access to the aisle with the 1-2-1 seat configuration.
Business Class passengers aboard the A350 enjoy top-level comfort that matches the best competitors globally with seats that can be reclined to full-flat beds, equipped with adjustable air cushions and massage functions. Plus, with enhanced amenities and services such as our new plush duvets and Dine-on-Demand meal service, passengers can expect a cozier and more enjoyable long-haul journey.
The Premium Economy Class onboard the A350 – a first of its kind to be offered on PAL’s destinations in the US Mainland and the UK – offers passengers an upgraded experience without the lavish price tag, with 38-inches of legroom and seats that can recline up to eight inches. Passengers seated in the Premium Economy Class also enjoy privacy and exclusivity with only 24 seats available and a dedicated lavatory in the cabin.
Economy Class on the A350 has also been enhanced with seats that recline up to six inches and a spacious legroom with seat pitch of up to 33 inches, offering industry leading comfort.
Put Boredom Behind
The A350 and A321neo provides more options and control to passengers seeking personal entertainment during a long-haul flight. All seats are equipped with personal TV screens with an up-to-date selection of movies, TV shows, music and more for every generation.
Starting October 2018, passengers will have more control to select content from their mobile phone aboard the A350 via the myPAL Player App. Guests simply need to download the app, pair it up the personal TV screen assigned, and have full control on the entertainment.
The A350 boasts of having the first high-speed Wi-Fi in the PAL fleet – so you can surf and watch videos on Facebook or YouTube, or even shop online starting October 2018. The new aircraft is also equipped with experience-enhancing mood lighting with scenes designed specifically for PAL, giving the cabin a “distinctly PAL” ambiance.
Less Noise, More R&R
You can sleep soundly when flying via the A350 and the A321neo — their state-of-the-art engines produce less noise both inside and outside the cabin, compared to other previous-generation aircraft. In fact, the A350 has four times less noise than its competitor aircraft, making it the quietest twin-aisle aircraft to date.
The arrival of the A350 and A321neo is just a preview of what PAL has up its sleeves. Committed to providing Filipinos a better flying experience, PAL expects a total of 27 new aircraft – with 6 A350s and 21 A321neos – bringing the average age of the flag carrier’s fleet to 5 years by end-2018. The arrival of new planes is an exciting phase in the flag carrier’s journey towards a 5-Star Skytrax Rating in 2020.
