PAL gets its first 777-300 ER from Boeing
Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) received its 777-300 ER (Extended Range) from The Boeing Company, the first 777 to join PAL’s fleet. The new aircraft will be deployed internationally.
PAL’s Boeing 777-300ER is leased from US-based leasing company GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS). The new airplane is one of two leased 777-300ERs the airline will deploy on its international routes.
"The Boeing 777-300ER is a great choice for PAL, giving Asia’s first commercial airline the most efficient airplane in the 300-to-400 seat segment," said Rob Laird, vice president of sales for east and Southeast Asia sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
The airplane can seat up to 365 passengers in a three-class configuration and has a maximum range of 7,930 nautical miles (14,685 km).
The plane is 19 percent lighter than its closest competitor, greatly reducing its fuel requirement. Its other features include the capability of producing 22 percent less carbon dioxide per seat and costs 20 percent less to operate per seat.
The airplanes are powered by General Electric GE90-115BLs, the world’s largest and most powerful commercial jet engine. The 777-300ER is well known for its cargo capacity -- up to 7,120 cubic feet (201.6 cubic meters).
"It provides the airline the flexibility to serve key markets worldwide while offering its passengers the highest levels of comfort and reliability," it said.
Boeing said the 777 family is the world’s most successful twin-engine, twin-aisle airplane. In fact, 57 customers around the world have ordered more than 1,100 777s.
The addition of the 777-300ER to the PAL fleet brings new twin-engine efficiency to the airline’s long-haul fleet.
PAL ordered 6 Boeing 777-300ER, each costing about $257 million to $286.5 million. Another unit will arrive in January next year while four others will be delivered between June 2012 and November 2013.
PAL is looking at tapping the US Export-Import Bank to provide financing for the four 777-300ERs on order directly from Boeing from 2007.
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