Philippine Airlines is to fit 10-abreast seating to the economy cabin of its Airbus A350-1000s, taking advantage of recent interior upgrades to the variant.
The carrier is configuring the twinjets with 380 seats in three classes, including 24 in the premium-economy cabin and 42 in business.
Airbus has introduced a new standard for the -1000 with modifications including a wider interior which enables a 10-abreast layout.
Chief executive Stanley Ng says the carrier – which took its first Airbus, an A300B4, more than 40 years ago – is considering other changes to its fleet.
He states that the airline is “exploring options” to replace its A330-300s, of which it has 10, “in about three or four years’ time”.
The A350s will gradually replace Boeing 777-300ERs as they arrive over the course of 2025-27.
Ng says the addition of more A350s “makes sense”, and he is open to the possibility of A350 freighters, although he says the carrier is “quite new” to the concept of operating its own cargo aircraft.
