Photos: inside Philippine Airlines’ new A350-1000

Philippine Airlines is upgrading its flagship business class to international standards on a new fleet of Airbus A350-1000 jets, the first of which is expected to begin flights to the US in early 2026.

Premium economy and economy also receive a revamp, including crisp large 4K video screens with USB-C power.

PAL has nine A350-1000s on order, plus purchase rights for three more; five of the jets are due for delivery across 2026, and three more in 2027, as the Filipino flag-carrier modernises its fleet.

“With higher humidity, lower cabin altitude, cleaner air technology and spacious bins and ceilings, these aircraft will deliver a more restful journey with less jet lag,” chief operating officer Carlos Luis Fernandez stated earlier this year.

The ultra-long range jets will connect Manila to key destinations in the United States (on the shortlist are New York, Los Angeles, Seattle and San Francisco) and Canada, and potentially new routes to Europe.

However, the first A350-1000 is tipped to appear on a handful of regional routes within Asia – among them Bangkok and Singapore – while pilots and crew become familiar with the jet.

Philippine Airlines has configured its A350-1000 as follows:

• 42 business class suites
• 24 premium economy recliners
• 316 economy seats

All passengers will be able to tap into inflight Wi-Fi across a range of package options and prices, and from tip to tail there’s LED mood lighting with 22 scenarios “inspired by the colours of the Philippines.”

Philippine Airlines A350-1000 business class

The A350-1000 sees the PAL business class experience transformed from seats to suites.

42 private suites in the business class cabin will cocoon passengers behind 46” (1.2m) walls and a sliding privacy door.

Philippine Airlines’ A350-1000 business class will be immediately familiar to many international travellers.

It’s nearly identical to the British Airways Club Suite business class, launched in 2019 on BA’s Airbus A350s and now being installed across its Boeing 787 fleet...

British Airways' Club Suite business class.

... and also Malaysia Airlines’ latest Airbus A330neo business class.

Malaysia Airlines' A330neo business class.

That’s because all three are based on the same Elevation design from Collins Aerospace – and that’s not a bad thing, as the Elevation platform offers a solid mid-range business class experience.

With each seat angled away from the aisle and reclined into its high-walled pod, there’s a welcome degree of seclusion even before you reach for that sliding door.

And closing the door definitely helps shut out noise and distractions when trying to sleep on the long lie-flat bed.

Each PAL A350-1000 business suite includes a 20” 4K video screen, albeit without Bluetooth pairing to a passenger’s own wireless headphones or earbuds.

There’s a riot of options to keep your tech topped up en route: AC, USB-A, USB-C and wireless charging all make an appearance.

One convenient feature of the Collins Elevation is the pair of storage nooks built into the benchtop, as shown below in BA’s Club Suite.

British Airways' Club Suite business class.

They’re great for temporarily stashing away your passport, glasses, phone or ebook reader, earbuds and pretty much anything else you’d like to keep close at hand.

The larger of these two recesses is where you’ll find the AC and USB power outlets – and the lid is cleverly designed to allow room for cables to pass under it without pinching them, so you can use those devices while they’re charging.

British Airways' Club Suite business class.

Or you can just plug your phone into the USB socket, leave it under the shelf and let it recharge while you sleep.

British Airways' Club Suite business class.

A large adjustable table glides out from beneath the video screen, and will be well-suited to getting some work done using the PAL A350-1000’s free satellite Wi-Fi.

And for those in the centre seats, a sliding panel can be closed to give privacy to solo flyers, or opened if travelling with a friend.

Philippine Airlines A350-1000 premium economy

Nestled away in its own cabin between business and economy, Philippine Airlines’ A350-1000 premium economy relies on an updated version of its previous premium economy seat.

Set in the standard 2-4-2 layout, each premium economy seat is 19” wide with a 7” recline and 38” pitch.

This is complemented by a supportive ‘waterfall’ calf-rest and extendable foot-rest.

Passengers have access to AC, USB-A and USB-C power outlets, with the USB-C port rated at a solid 60w – ample for fast-charging phones and tablets, while also keeping most modern laptops juiced up.

Philippine Airlines A350-1000 economy

Down the back of the (Air)bus are 316 economy seats in a 3-4-3 layout.

Each packs a crisp 4K video screen with handy USB charge sockets and an integrated mobile device stand for propping up your phone or tablet.

These seats are 16.5” wide, with a 32” pitch and 6” recline.

Philippine Airlines to upgrade Boeing 777s, Airbus A330s

Philippine Airlines will also upgrade its workhorse Boeing 777 and Airbus A330 jets with new business class suites, potentially using the same A350-1000 design.

However, this won’t begin until late 2027, Philippine Airlines President Richard Nuttall told reporters on the sidelines of a recent aviation forum at Manila.

Philippine Airlines' older jets will also get new business class suites.

“It is going to probably take about three years before we can start,” adding that Philippine Airlines faces “the same supply chain issues” as the rest of the industry.

“As soon as those seats are available, we will be refurbishing and we are looking at doing it on 330s and 777s.”

The refurbishment program is estimated at $14-$15 million for the A330s alone, more for the Boeing 777, Nuttall added: “a lot of money, but cheaper than buying new aircraft.”

Philippine Airlines’ single-aisle Airbus A321 jets are also being fitted with new business and economy seats to improve the passenger experience on flights throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

The 12 business class seats retain a 2-2 layout but with increased pitch from 37” to 45”, with a deep 10” recline (up from the previous 6”).

Philippine Airlines' new A321ceo business class.
Miguel R. Camus

The reconfigured economy cabin sacrifices five seats in the name of business class comfort, from 187 seats down to 182, but still with the same 30” pitch and 5” recline.

Philippine Airlines' new A321ceo economy class.
Miguel R. Camus

For many passengers, the most significant change will be the introduction of seatback video screens (13.3” in business and 10.1” in economy) and USB charging outlets.

Philippine Airlines' new A321ceo business class.
Miguel R. Camus

A handful of A321s have already gone under the knife this year, with nine to follow in 2026 and the final six in 2027.

These are older A321ceo ‘classic’ models, compared to the latest A321neo series which sports lie-flat business class seats – albeit still in a paired 2-2 layout.

Philippine Airlines' A321neo business class.
Collins Aerospace / Philippine Airlines

Both the original and new A321s will help Philippine Airlines tap into increasing demand for domestic and regional flights, with the country’s ‘second city’ of Cebu being developed into “a true inter-island and international hub,” noted COO Fernandez.

“This means not only operating long-haul flights but also expanding domestic services that feed into our international waves.”