Philippine Airlines (PAL) is preparing to place a substantial widebody equipment order that would bring 15 Boeing 787-10 aircraft and nine Airbus A350-1000 jets into its fleet, according to industry sources. The purchase would represent the carrier's first acquisition of Boeing aircraft in almost 20 years and is expected to be formally revealed at the Farnborough Airshow later this month.
Including the Boeing 787-10 in the planned procurement carries an immediate contractual consequence: it will automatically open an engine competition between Britain’s Rolls-Royce and U.S. aerospace firm GE Aerospace to power those aircraft. The sources framed the engine contest as a direct result of the 787 decision.
Both airframers declined to comment on commercial discussions when approached, and Philippine Airlines said it could not provide information on potential fleet additions. The carrier's president had previously indicated in June at an industry summit that PAL intended to place orders for new aircraft within a few months.
Earlier reporting said the airline had chosen to divide an order of about 20 planes between Airbus and Boeing. PAL currently operates a mixed widebody roster featuring mostly earlier-generation Airbus A330s and Boeing 777s alongside a limited number of newer A350s.
In product positioning, the 787-10 is most directly competitive with Airbus’s upgraded A330neo. The expected order would therefore expand PAL’s exposure to two of the world’s principal long-haul jet types.
The potential deal comes against a backdrop of widening economic and strategic ties between the United States and the Philippines. Following a global dispute over tariffs, Washington has signaled an interest in narrowing its trade shortfall with the Philippines, which stood at nearly $5 billion in 2024, and the Philippines has pledged to raise imports from the United States.
Separately, the carrier is in a phase of expansion as the country plans a new airport, and PAL announced last month plans to join the oneworld Alliance, a move that ends its prior isolation from major global airline groupings.
Summary
Industry sources report Philippine Airlines intends to order 15 Boeing 787-10s and nine Airbus A350-1000s, its first Boeing purchase in nearly 20 years. The announcements are expected at the Farnborough Airshow and will prompt an engine contest between Rolls-Royce and GE Aerospace for the 787 fleet. PAL currently operates older A330s and 777s along with a small number of A350s and is expanding as the Philippines develops airport capacity and pursues oneworld membership.
Key points
- PAL is poised to order 15 Boeing 787-10s and nine Airbus A350-1000s, with announcements expected at the Farnborough Airshow - impacts aerospace manufacturing and airline fleet markets.
- The inclusion of the 787-10 will trigger an engine competition between Rolls-Royce and GE Aerospace - directly affects aero-engine suppliers.
- The move aligns with PAL’s broader expansion as the Philippines plans a new airport and the airline pursues membership in the oneworld Alliance - relevant to airport infrastructure and global airline alliances.
Risks and uncertainties
- Commercial details and contract confirmations remain unconfirmed - public statements from Airbus, Boeing and PAL declined to provide information.
- The outcome of the engine contest is uncertain - it is unclear which manufacturer, Rolls-Royce or GE Aerospace, will win the 787 engine supply.
- Broader trade and policy dynamics could influence procurement and supply chains - U.S.-Philippine trade discussions and the Philippines’ pledge to increase U.S. imports are ongoing variables.