Philippine Airlines selects more A320s for fleet modernisation
TOULOUSE (Airbus) - Philippine Airlines has placed a firm order with Airbus for nine A320s and taken options on a further five aircraft, as part of its long term fleet modernisation programme. In addition, the airline will be leasing two new A320s and two new A319s from GE Capital Aviation Services.
Deliveries of the new fleet of A320 Family aircraft will commence during the second half of 2006 and run through until 2012. The A320s will be configured in a 12 Mabuhay Business Class / 144 Economy Class and the A319s in 8 Mabuhay Business Class /126 Economy class.
Philippine Airlines currently operates seven A320s on domestic and regional services, eight A330s on major regional trunk routes and four A340s on long haul services.
The single aisle A320 Family has achieved a significant market penetration in the Asia-Pacific region, having won almost every major campaign for aircraft in the 100 -200 seat category in recent years. Almost 440 A320s are currently in service with 36 airlines across the region.
"Airbus has long been a part of Philippine Airlines' pioneering history in local aviation. Today's agreement reaffirms that close partnership. More importantly, it enables us to offer an enhanced bi-class product to our customers, thereby, strengthening our leadership in the markets we serve," said Mariano Tanenglian, Philippine Airlines vice chairman and treasurer.
"Philippine Airlines has been an Airbus operator for more than 25 years and I am delighted that the positive experience with the A320 in recent years has contributed significantly to this further order for the type. The new A320s will ensure Philippine Airlines' ability to further maximise profit potential, while offering passengers the highest standards of in-flight comfort available today," said Airbus President and Chief Executive Officer, Gustav Humbert.
The A320 offers optimum cabin comfort in its class, reflecting a common commitment that is found in all Airbus aircraft. And like all the passenger aircraft that Airbus produces today, it features many modern technology features at no extra charge - such as advanced fuel-saving aerodynamics, including winglets, widespread weight-saving carbonfibre composites, and pilot and maintenance-friendly fly-by-wire controls and centralised maintenance.
Widely accepted as the industry standard, the best–selling Airbus A320 Family comprises a variety of seating configurations that allow for a customized lay-out depending on the airliner’s needs. All of them share the same airframe - only the fuselage lengths are different - and the same cockpits, systems and engines, delivering unmatched operational commonality and savings to airlines.
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