For an airline that has spent more than eight decades connecting the Philippines to the world, the future has never looked more promising.
Philippine Airlines (PAL) has taken a significant step toward crafting its next generation of travel by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Boeing to purchase 15 Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners, with options for five more aircraft.
Announced at the Farnborough International Airshow, the agreement highlights PAL’s commitment to fleet modernization, operational capability, and sustainable long-haul growth.
Asia’s First Commercial Carrier
The announcement gathered key leaders: Lucio C. Tan III, President and COO of PAL Holdings, Inc.; Richard Nuttall, President of Philippine Airlines; Stephanie Pope, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes; and Brad McMullen, Boeing Senior Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing.
This investment manifests our confidence in the future of Philippine Airlines and the continued growth of air travel,”
said Lucio C. Tan III.
The Boeing 787-10 will strengthen our medium- and long-haul fleet, allowing us to provide an even better travel experience for our customers while improving operational efficiency and supporting our long-term sustainability goals.”
He added the order coincides with two major milestones: the airline’s 85th anniversary as Asia’s first commercial carrier and 80 years of partnership with Boeing.
Eight Decades of Boeing in Philippine Aviation
Boeing’s relationship with Philippine aviation stretches back nearly eight decades.
PAL has operated a wide range of Boeing models, including the 727, 737, 747, and today’s flagship 777-300ER, alongside classic Douglas and McDonnell Douglas jets that formed the backbone of its early international network.
The Boeing 777-300ER currently serves PAL’s long-haul routes connecting the Philippines to North America, including the nonstop Manila-Seattle service launched in 2024. Boeing’s influence goes beyond the flag carrier.
By introducing the next-generation Dreamliner, PAL invests in the country’s aviation future. Offering greater fuel efficiency, enhanced passenger comfort, and expanded worldwide connectivity, the 787-10 starts a new phase in PAL’s mission to share Filipino hospitality worldwide.
For Boeing, the order reinforces one of the aerospace industry’s longest-standing relationships.
Philippine Airlines’ selection of the 787 Dreamliner marks an important step forward in our partnership, one that spans 80 years,”
said Stephanie Pope, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
We’re grateful for PAL’s trust in Boeing, and our team looks forward to delivering advanced-technology airplanes that deepen connections across the Philippines, Asia, and beyond.”
The agreement represents PAL’s first new Boeing aircraft order since 2007 and reaffirms its trust in the manufacturer. PAL remains the only Philippine carrier operating Boeing aircraft for full-service commercial passenger operations.
A New Standard for Long-Haul Travel
The 787-10 will anchor PAL’s fleet renewal strategy, replacing older aircraft as it expands regional and international capacity.
Built with advanced composites, refined aerodynamics, and fuel-efficient engines, the Dreamliner substantially reduces fuel burn and carbon emissions. Passengers benefit from larger windows, higher cabin humidity, purer air, quieter cabins, and PAL’s latest interior designs.
Whether flying regional routes across Asia or long-haul transpacific flights, passengers will experience elevated standards from Asia’s oldest carrier.
Deliveries are scheduled between 2031 and 2034, with the first aircraft entering service in 2031.
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