PAL adds new A321neo to reg'l fleet
Published Sep 2, 2019 12:00 am
By Emmie V. Abadilla
In the latest phase of its modernization program, Philippine Airlines (PAL) has introduced a new Airbus A321neo (new engine option) SR aircraft, with a list price of around US$115 million, to its fleet in the Asian region, the flag carrier yesterday announced.
The aircraft is the first of a batch of 15 that will be progressively introduced into the PAL fleet over the next few years.
With its versatile Airbus "cabin flex” configuration, the plane is designed for short-range regional flights between the Philippines and East Asian destinations, including airports in greater China, central Japan, Korea, Guam and the rest of ASEAN.
"Our passengers will appreciate the more comfortable layout of the aircraft," according to PAL President Gilbert F. Santa Maria.
“The A321neo’s new engines, ‘sharklet’ wingtips and other innovations also make the airplane quieter, more efficient and kinder to the environment, which is good news for the planet.”
Outfitted with just 195 seats in a two-class layout – 12 seats in Business Class and 183 seats in Economy, the A321neo SR offers a roomier cabin than the existing 199-seater A321 Classics, with more legroom and personal space than the 236-seat configuration offered by some competitor airlines on their similar-sized A321neos.
In PAL’s customized A321neo cabin, every seat in both Business and Economy sections has imbedded personal video screens offering movies, TV shows and music.
The myPALeSuite system allows passengers to stay connected inflight through their own personal mobile devices with myPAL Wi-Fi for free, or they may opt to surf longer with upgrade plans.
Passengers will enjoy notable enhancements in seat comfort and entertainment options onboard the A321neo SR, which is a more advanced update of the A321 Classic that PAL currently operates on domestic and certain regional routes.
The visible modifications on the A321neo include an additional lavatory, a new rear section and new over-wing emergency exits in the center section to replace the traditional secondary door located forward of the wing in classic A321s.
"Our award-winning inflight service, extensive entertainment selections, comfortable seats and brand new planes are earning the appreciation of more and more passengers,” the PAL President added. “We will extend the same service experience to passengers flying our A321neo SR."
"Our newest A321neo will become the single-aisle mainstay for regional routes, helping PAL in our mission to boost tourism from the high-producing tourist countries in the region such as China, Japan, Korea and our ASEAN neighbors."
Prior to this new batch of A321neo SRs, the flag carrier completed the delivery of six longer-range versions of the A321neo with the arrival of the sixth aircraft on New Year's Day 2019. The longer-range A321neo has been deployed on nonstop routes to Brisbane, Papua New Guinea, Sydney and Sapporo.
PAL’s current fleet of 98 aircraft includes six Airbus A350-900 and ten Boeing 777-300ER wide-body jetliners for long-haul routes, fifteen Airbus A330s for high-density Asia/Pacific, Australian and Middle Eastern routes, six A321neo longer-range versions, twenty-four A321 Classics, nineteen A320s and ten De Havilland Dash-8-400s, in addition to classic versions of the Q300/400.
The brand new PAL A321neo SR, with registry number RP-C9937, actually joined the fleet last July, after completing flight tests at the Airbus A320/A321 assembly plant in Hamburg's Finkenwerder Airport, Germany.
In the latest phase of its modernization program, Philippine Airlines (PAL) has introduced a new Airbus A321neo (new engine option) SR aircraft, with a list price of around US$115 million, to its fleet in the Asian region, the flag carrier yesterday announced.
The aircraft is the first of a batch of 15 that will be progressively introduced into the PAL fleet over the next few years.
With its versatile Airbus "cabin flex” configuration, the plane is designed for short-range regional flights between the Philippines and East Asian destinations, including airports in greater China, central Japan, Korea, Guam and the rest of ASEAN.
"Our passengers will appreciate the more comfortable layout of the aircraft," according to PAL President Gilbert F. Santa Maria.
“The A321neo’s new engines, ‘sharklet’ wingtips and other innovations also make the airplane quieter, more efficient and kinder to the environment, which is good news for the planet.”
Outfitted with just 195 seats in a two-class layout – 12 seats in Business Class and 183 seats in Economy, the A321neo SR offers a roomier cabin than the existing 199-seater A321 Classics, with more legroom and personal space than the 236-seat configuration offered by some competitor airlines on their similar-sized A321neos.
In PAL’s customized A321neo cabin, every seat in both Business and Economy sections has imbedded personal video screens offering movies, TV shows and music.
The myPALeSuite system allows passengers to stay connected inflight through their own personal mobile devices with myPAL Wi-Fi for free, or they may opt to surf longer with upgrade plans.
Passengers will enjoy notable enhancements in seat comfort and entertainment options onboard the A321neo SR, which is a more advanced update of the A321 Classic that PAL currently operates on domestic and certain regional routes.
The visible modifications on the A321neo include an additional lavatory, a new rear section and new over-wing emergency exits in the center section to replace the traditional secondary door located forward of the wing in classic A321s.
"Our award-winning inflight service, extensive entertainment selections, comfortable seats and brand new planes are earning the appreciation of more and more passengers,” the PAL President added. “We will extend the same service experience to passengers flying our A321neo SR."
"Our newest A321neo will become the single-aisle mainstay for regional routes, helping PAL in our mission to boost tourism from the high-producing tourist countries in the region such as China, Japan, Korea and our ASEAN neighbors."
Prior to this new batch of A321neo SRs, the flag carrier completed the delivery of six longer-range versions of the A321neo with the arrival of the sixth aircraft on New Year's Day 2019. The longer-range A321neo has been deployed on nonstop routes to Brisbane, Papua New Guinea, Sydney and Sapporo.
PAL’s current fleet of 98 aircraft includes six Airbus A350-900 and ten Boeing 777-300ER wide-body jetliners for long-haul routes, fifteen Airbus A330s for high-density Asia/Pacific, Australian and Middle Eastern routes, six A321neo longer-range versions, twenty-four A321 Classics, nineteen A320s and ten De Havilland Dash-8-400s, in addition to classic versions of the Q300/400.
The brand new PAL A321neo SR, with registry number RP-C9937, actually joined the fleet last July, after completing flight tests at the Airbus A320/A321 assembly plant in Hamburg's Finkenwerder Airport, Germany.