Philippine Airlines looking at acquiring A350-1000 aircraft

Philippine Airlines is looking at adding the largest version of Airbus's A350 series to its fleet, the carrier's president said Thursday. The airline is undergoing a US$2b expansion programme to make its fleet one of the youngest in Asia. "It is one airplane we can consider. It is a bigger version of the A350-900," Jaime Bautista, president of the airline's operator, PAL Holdings, said before an A350-1000 test flight in Manila. There is commonality in spare parts between the A350-900 and the A350-1000 and Philippine Airlines' pilots can fly both aircraft, Bautista added. In 2016, Philippine Airlines ordered 6 wide-body A350-900 jets worth about $1.8b at list prices to help the company expand its lucrative international network. The carrier expects to take delivery of 15 planes this year, including 4 Airbus A350s. <br/>