Philippine Airlines (PAL) will retire its Boeing 747-400s in the coming weeks, with the type due to be replaced by 777-300ERs on the carrier's 18 weekly services to the US.
The carrier will perform its last 747 flight on the Manila-San Francisco route in early June, with the 777s to take over operating on the route. The change has been made possible by the US Federal Aviation Administration's upgrade of the Philippines to Category I status, which has allowed PAL to introduce the new aircraft on its US services.
The twin engine aircraft also operates on services to Australia, Canada and Europe, says PAL.The airline also expects it will save as much as $120 million annually in fuel and maintenance costs using the 777s.
Philippine Airlines
Flightglobal’s Ascend Online Fleets database showed that PAL received its first Boeing 747 – the -200 variant – in December 1979. Its first 747-400 was delivered in 1993. As of 15 May 2014, it operates only four 747-400s, and six 777-300ERs.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
