Philippine Airlines said it plans to acquire 10 small aircraft for its domestic expansion next year.
“We have signed a memorandum of understanding for five and options for another five. We are now finalizing the purchase agreement,” PAL president Jaime Bautista told reporters.
Bautista said the company expected to receive the aircraft by middle of 2017. He said the aircraft would be used in small cities in the Visayas and Mindanao.
“This will replace our existing Q-400 aircraft,” he said.
PAL earlier signed a deal with Airbus to acquire six A350-900 jets worth $1.8 billion, with an option to buy six others to support its long-haul operations.
PAL plans to deploy the A350 XWB (extra wide body), which seats more than 300, on new routes to North America and Europe. The first A350 is scheduled to be delivered in 2018.
Its parent firm, PAL Holdings Inc., posted a comprehensive net income of P4.62 billion in January to June, up from P5.94 billion in the same period last year.