PAL spending $80 M for Airbus reconfiguration

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Airlines (PAL) is spending $80 million for the reconfiguration of eight Airbus A330 aircraft into a tri-class model with business, premium economy and economy sections to improve passenger service and achieve a four-star rating this year.

PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista told reporters during the launch of the first reconfigured Airbus A330 the national carrier is spending $10 million for each aircraft, which is being converted to have 309 seats with business, premium economy and economy sections from 414 all economy seats previously.

For the reconfiguration, PAL chose the Thompson Vantage XL brand for the 18 business class seats with a legroom of 44 inches, width of 23 to 24 inches and a full-flat recline with a bed length of 78 inches.

PAL’s business class also features pneumatic comfort system which allows the passenger to adjust seat firmness according to preference, complimented with the massage function.

For the premium economy seats, PAL selected the Zodiac 5810 brand. The seats have a legroom of 38 inches, width of 19 inches and a recline of eight inches.

The Economy Zodiac brand, meanwhile, was chosen for the 267 economy seats with a legroom of 32 inches, width of 17 inches and recline of six inches.

Bautista said the carrier decided to invest in the reconfiguration of the aircraft previously used in destinations in the Middle East, to generate higher revenues and improve passenger service.

“This is an important ingredient for us to get the four star (rating) this year,” he said.

PAL currently has a three-star rating from Skytrax, an aviation consultancy based in the United Kingdom.

Skytrax is expected to conduct an audit either in October or November, and PAL is hopeful it could get the four-star rating afterwards.

Bautista said PAL expects the reconfiguration of the eight A330s to be completed by December.

The reconfigured aircraft would be utilized for the Manila – Honolulu – Manila route starting this month.

The other reconfigured A330 planes would also be used for flights to Melbourne starting next month, to Sydney beginning August, to Singapore by September, to Haneda in Japan by October, Narita in November and Osaka in December.