Philippine Airlines (PAL) is grappling with challenges as it faces aircraft shortages that impact its operations. One of the immediate consequences is the temporary halt of its Dammam route due to equipment constraints. Personally, the situation got me more worried following recent reports from Aviation Week, which revealed delays in delivering PAL’s Airbus A350-1000 and A321neo aircraft. These may create complications for the airline, which is in urgent need of more planes to meet its operational needs.
According to Roland Narcisco, PAL’s Senior Vice President of Operations, the delivery of the Airbus A350-1000, originally expected in the third quarter of 2025, has now been pushed to the fourth quarter of that year. In addition, the A321neo, initially expected in 2026, now has no confirmed delivery date. This situation is made worse by the grounding of four out of eight A321neo aircraft due to issues with the Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan engines.
With its fleet capacity constrained by these delays, PAL is focusing on retrofitting some of its existing planes. The airline plans to retrofit 18 A321ceo aircraft with products similar to the A321neo, including inflight entertainment systems, in response to passenger demands. This retrofit program is scheduled to begin in mid-2025 and will continue through 2027.
Decisions on Future Fleet Management
While the retrofit program is progressing, PAL has chosen not to retrofit its nine Boeing 777-300ERs, given that the leases for these planes are nearing expiration. Looking ahead, Narcisco indicated that the airline must make important decisions by 2025 regarding whether to replace or retrofit other aircraft in its fleet, such as the Airbus A330 or the Dash 8 turboprops.
As air travel demand continues to rise globally, many airlines are aggressively expanding their fleets to meet this growing demand. PAL faces a pressing choice: either place new aircraft orders soon or risk falling behind in the increasingly competitive landscape.
The delays and equipment constraints have not only impacted route availability but also raised concerns about the long-term operational efficiency of PAL’s fleet. Maintaining older planes, even with refreshed interiors, can lead to increased maintenance costs and more frequent aircraft-on-ground (AOG) situations. These technical issues can result in flight cancellations and negatively affect customer experience.
As PAL works to resolve these challenges, its focus remains on delivering an improved inflight experience and ensuring reliability for its passengers. However, the airline will need to take decisive action on its fleet strategy to keep up with the demands of the fast-paced aviation market.
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