Carrier Adds Capacity With Largest Model Of A320 Family

Philippine Airlines (PAL) has taken delivery of its first Airbus A321. The aircraft was handed over at the Airbus delivery center in Hamburg, Germany Wednesday and is the first of 64 new Airbus aircraft ordered by the airline in 2012 under a major fleet modernization program. 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.
 
“The addition of the A321 to the PAL fleet reflects a general move towards larger aircraft types in all the various size categories – including the single aisle market,” said John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer, Customers, Airbus.

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.

FMI: www.airbus.com