(Posted 22nd July 2026)
Philippine Airlines (PAL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for nine A350-1000 widebody aircraft. The agreement was announced during the Farnborough Air Show by Lucio C. Tan III, President and Chief Operating Officer of PAL Holdings, Inc., Richard Nuttall, President of Philippine Airlines, together with Lars Wagner, CEO of the Commercial Aircraft business at Airbus and Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, EVP Sales of the Airbus Commercial Aircraft business.
Once finalised, the new contract will double the airline’s total orders for the A350-1000 to 18 aircraft, of which the first two have been delivered this year. Designated as the carrier’s new flagship, the A350-1000 will enable PAL to further develop its long haul network, primarily linking Manila with destinations in North America. These include non-stop services in both directions linking Manila with cities on the East Coast of the U.S. and Canada.
PAL has specified a three class configuration for its A350-1000 fleet, accommodating 382 passengers. The layout includes 42 suites in Business Class with privacy doors and fully flat beds, 24 seats in a spacious separate Premium Economy cabin and 316 seats in Economy class. All cabins feature the latest in-flight entertainment systems and connectivity.
Philippine Airlines operates various Airbus types on its full service network. In addition to the A350, PAL flies A330-300s to the Middle East, Australia and various points in Asia. The carrier also operates a fleet of A320 and A321 single-aisle aircraft on domestic and regional services.
Meanwhile did Shohin Airlines order four Airbus A320neo Family aircraft, marking the first ever Airbus order for the airline. The agreement, which includes two A320neo and two A321neo aircraft, was included in Airbus’ end of June order book as an undisclosed order.
Registered in June 2025, the airline aims to expand a wide route network and build a strong brand that represents Tajikistan on the global aviation stage.
The A320neo aircraft will feature 176 seats and the A321neo will feature 196 seats in a dual class layout. These new aircraft will be helping the airline launch services to regional and global markets.
“The signing of our first contract with Airbus marks a milestone not only for Shohin Airlines, but also for the entire civil aviation sector of Tajikistan. The A320neo Family aircraft will form the backbone of our airline’s modern, efficient, and environmentally sustainable fleet. We are committed to providing our passengers with the highest standards of safety, comfort, and service quality while expanding Tajikistan’s international air connectivity. We are confident that our partnership with Airbus will provide a solid foundation for Shohin Airlines’ long-term growth and the successful implementation of our strategy to build a world-class airline,” said Zafar Ahmadzoda, Chief Executive Officer of Shohin Airlines.
