Philippine Airlines buying seven Q400 aircraft worth $235 million

LE BOURGET — Philippine Airlines (PAL) is buying seven more Bombardier Q400 aircraft, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft announced during the International Paris Air Show.

In a statement, the Montreal, Canada-based plane manufacturer said it signed a deal with PAL for the exercise of its seven Q400 aircraft purchase rights.

This brings PAL’s total firm order to 12 Q400 aircraft, valued at approximately $ 235 million. In December, PAL made a firm order for five Q400, plus purchase rights for an additional seven.

The Lucio Tan-led flag carrier is scheduled to take delivery of the Q400, the world’s first dualclass, 86- seat Q400 aircraft, in July.

“As we position ourselves for growth, we are pleased to be adding more Q400 to our fleet. We are thrilled about the opportunities that lie ahead, and we look forward to offering more capacity and improving connectivity in the region with comfortable, fast and efficient regional aircraft like Bombardier’s 86- seat turboprops,” PAL President and Chief Operating Officer Jaime J. Bautista was quoted as saying in a statement.

For his part, Bombardier President Fred Cromer expressed confidence PAL will benefit from the Q400’s “outstanding economics and performance.”

“The Q400 aircraft have helped airlines around the world expand their networks, and capture new opportunities,” Mr. Cromer said in the statement.

AIRBUS DEAL

Earlier this month, Mr. Bautista said the flag carrier is pushing back the start of delivery of its Airbus A321 NEO (new engine option) planes to January over issues with the engines to be used for the aircraft.

PAL has an existing order of 21 A321 NEOs, which was supposed to begin delivery by November.

“Our first aircraft delivery of the NEO will be [ on] January 2018 from November this year, so it’s three months delayed,” Mr. Bautista had said.

The new jets — part of the A320 single- aisle jetliner family — are usually flown short-haul but are more fuel-efficient.

PAL’s announcement comes a week after Cebu Pacific said it is deferring the start of delivery of 32 A321 NEOs to end 2018 until 2022, “due to delays with the Pratt & Whitney engines selected to power the aircraft.” The planes were originally scheduled to be delivered starting September 2017 until 2021.

In view of the delay in the A321 NEOs, Cebu Pacific has said it is buying seven Airbus 321CEO (Current Engine Option) aircraft worth $ 812 million to address increased capacity requirements.

The Gokongwei- led airline said the seven A321CEO planes will be delivered starting March 2018.