a man sitting in a chair with a tray of food

Photo Report: The New Philippine Airlines A350-1000

Sam Chui·January 18, 2026

Philippine Airlines Trip Report Trip Report Business Class

On 17th January, 2026, Asia's oldest airline, Philippine Airlines (PAL), celebrates its 85th Anniversary. The President of the Philippines, H.E. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., unveiled PAL’s first Airbus A350-1000 during the event.

I was invited, along with other aviation media and colleagues, to attend the event at Lufthansa Technik Manila. Here are some photos from the event.

a man standing at a podium with a large airplane in the background

a large airplane with stairs up to the side

Philippine Airlines A350-1000 Tour

Philippine Airlines A350-1000 features 3 classes with a total capacity of 382 seats.

42 Business Suite
24 Premium Economy
316 Economy seats (3-4-3 config).

Philippine Airlines A350-1000 Business Class suite

Philippine Airlines A350-1000 Premium Economy (2-4-2 config) with 7" recline

Philippine Airlines A350-1000 Economy Class seat (3-4-3 config)

Philippine Airlines A350-1000 Economy Class seat (3-4-3 config). Feeling a little narrow to my size. — Philippine Airlines A350-1000 Economy Class seat. I feel a little narrow for my size. Leg room was standard 32".

A350-1000 Flight to Hong Kong

The next day, I took PR318 back to Hong Kong, this flight is often scheduled with the A350-1000. PAL mentioned the A350-1000 will primarily be used on North American routes (such as JFK) and occasionally on inter-Asia routes to Hong Kong and Bangkok.

Below is a photo report of my flight and Philippine Airlines Mabuhay Lounge in Manila.

Mabuhay Lounge, Manila, NAIA T1

Philippine Airlines Mabuhay Lounge Manila

a group of people sitting in chairs in a room with luggage

a group of people sitting at tables in a room with chairs and tables

Overall, the lounge is quite crowded in the early morning due to the high volume of international departures. The lounge has a modern feel. I really like the facade area. However, PAL can do better by elevating the food and drinks on offer to make the lounge feel more premium.

PR318 Manila to Hong Kong

Here are some photos from my short 1.5 hours flight. Most are self-explanatory.

Philippine Airlines A350-1000 Premium Economy

Philippine Airlines A350-1000 Economy Class

Business Class seat was from Collins Aerospace "Elevation". This seat is quite popular and currently set the standard in Business Class.

a hand holding a blue and white brochure

an airplane wing with a city in the background

a tray of food on a table — Philippine Airlines Short Haul Business Class food

a plate of food on a table — Philippine Airlines Short Haul Business Class food

an airplane wing and shadow of an airplane on the water

Verdict - Pros and Cons

Philippine Airlines has ordered a total of 9 A350-1000 and it will receive 5 more A350-1000 this year. So expect the A350-1000 to be deployed on most long-haul routes.

Pros:

A350-1000 is a big upgrade to PAL's fleet. Especially consider their B777 has an outdated product.
PAL crew are warm and usually are service-oriented.
Design elements are culture-inspired, such as the table light, fabric, and headrest cover.

Cons: