PAL takes delivery of Airbus A321neo

MANILA, Philippines — Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) has taken delivery of its first Airbus A321neo (new engine option) aircraft which would be used for flights to the Asia Pacific region.

“This is the first of 21 A321neo aircraft ordered by the airline under its fleet renewal program,” Airbus said in a statement.

Powered by Pratt and Whitney Pure Power engines, the A321neo has a premium two class layout with 12 business class seats and 154 seats in the main cabin.

PAL chose the A321neo given its operational efficiency, comfort and range.

PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista said earlier the A321neo would be used for flights to Australia and India.

The new A321neo joins PAL’s existing Airbus fleet which includes 25 A320ceos, 15 wide-body A330s and five A340s.

PAL expects to take delivery of a total of six A321neos, as well as four Airbus A350-900s this year.

The A350-900s would be used for long-haul flights to North America and Europe.

Apart from modernizing its fleet, the new aircraft would also enable PAL to realize fuel savings.

Bautista has said the carrier, which would consume 11 million barrels of fuel this year, expects to incur additional cost of $143 million from rising fuel prices.

He said fuel prices have risen by $13 in the January to April period this year.

To recover higher costs of fuel, PAL has earlier filed a petition with the Civil Aeronautics Board.

The agency has yet to take action on the petition.