Philippine Airlines Orders Boeing 787-10s and Airbus A350-1000s

Philippine Airlines Just Bought From Boeing for the First Time in 20 Years — and Airbus on the Same Day

Philippine Airlines announced a commitment for 15 Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners with options for five more at the Farnborough Airshow today, marking its first direct Boeing purchase since 2007. The airline simultaneously plans to order nine additional Airbus A350-1000s, bringing its total widebody commitment to 24 firm aircraft across two manufacturers — the largest fleet expansion in PAL's history.

An airline that was emerging from bankruptcy protection four years ago just signed deals at one of the world's most prestigious airshows. That turnaround deserves to be named.

What PAL Is Actually Ordering

The 787-10 is the longest and largest member of the Dreamliner family, configured for medium to long-haul routes where its 330-seat capacity and 6,430 nautical mile range excel. For PAL, which currently operates a widebody fleet of older A330s, Boeing 777s and the nine A350-1000s already arriving, the 787-10 fills a specific gap. It is more efficient than the 777-300ERs on thinner long-haul routes and gives the airline a second modern widebody type alongside the A350-1000, the two most capable aircraft in their respective manufacturers' current catalogues flying under one flag.

The engine selection contest is already underway. The 787-10 order automatically triggers a separate competition between Rolls-Royce's Trent 1000 and GE Aerospace's GEnx, a decision PAL will need to make before the order is finalised, with the winner supplying all 15 firm aircraft and any options exercised.

Why Boeing After 20 Years

PAL's last direct Boeing order was a two-aircraft 777-300ER deal in 2007, nineteen years ago. The airline has kept flying Boeing widebodies through that period, operating 777s acquired through lessors and the secondary market, but placed no direct manufacturer orders. The return to Boeing's order book is not purely commercial. Washington has been pushing the Philippines to increase imports from the United States as part of trade negotiations targeting a bilateral trade deficit that stood at nearly USD 5 billion in 2024. The Philippines has publicly pledged to increase US imports, and a commitment for 15 Boeing jets, announced on the opening day of Farnborough, is exactly the kind of tangible delivery that trade diplomacy requires.

That political dimension does not make the aircraft the wrong choice. The 787-10 is a genuinely competitive product and PAL has built familiarity with Boeing widebody operations over decades. But the timing of the announcement and the public framing around it leave no doubt that this order is doing more than one job simultaneously.

The Bigger Picture Behind the Order

PAL is buying these aircraft into a completely different strategic context than any previous fleet decision in its history. Last month the airline announced plans to join the oneworld Alliance, ending its decades-long isolation from the major global groupings. Long Thanh International Airport, across the border in Vietnam, is opening and will reshape regional connectivity. Navi Mumbai International Airport opened its first international flights this week. New airports are being built or expanded across the Asia Pacific markets PAL serves, and the airline is ordering the aircraft that will connect them.

The 787-10 deliveries begin in 2031. By then, PAL will have a young, modern two-type widebody fleet, A350-1000 for ultra-long-range flagship routes, 787-10 for medium and long-haul expansion, backed by an alliance membership and a new international airport at home in Manila. The fleet decision and the network ambition are being built together, not sequentially.

Philippine Airlines filed for bankruptcy protection in September 2021. Today it announced its largest ever widebody order at Farnborough. That is not a footnote. It is the whole story.