New jets, cabin upgrade to sustain PAL's growth

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is banking on its fleet expansion and in-flight upgrades to do the heavy lifting in sustaining both its financial and operational growth.

- By ELIJAH FELICE ROSALES

At its annual stockholders meeting yesterday, PAL Holdings Inc. chairman Lucio Tan expressed confidence on the airline's capability to grow even as demand for air travel has begun to normalize.

Tan said PAL is on schedule to receive its initial batch of Airbus A350-1000s toward the end of this year, gearing it up for further expansion in the long-haul segment.

Moreover, PAL is on track to increase its narrowbody fleet through its purchase of 13 A321neos that would start coming in next year. PAL has spent P20.26 billion and P16.54 billion to date for the pre-delivery payments of the A321neos and A350s, respectively.