PAL defers Boeing aircraft acquisition

The aggressive expansion of flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) has hit an unexpected speed bump as it puts on hold a potential multibillion-dollar order for new planes from American firm Boeing Co. due to safety issues.

This was due to recently discovered problems with the newly launched Boeing 787, which has been grounded for several weeks after battery overheating issues forced two of the so-called “Dreamliners” to make emergency landings last January.

PAL president Ramon S. Ang admitted that the 787 was one of several brand new planes the airline was planning to acquire. “We were looking at the Dreamliner and the other new Airbuses,” Ang said in a press briefing this week.

Because of the unforeseen issues, Ang said PAL would defer any decision on which new planes it would be buying.

The 787 Dreamliner is Boeing’s newest flagship aircraft. Its fuselage is made almost entirely out of carbon composite material that makes the plane significantly lighter than previous models, without compromis   ing strength.

The 787 is capable of carrying 250 to 260 passengers per flight or lower than the bigger 777’s 400-plus passenger capacity, depending on how seats are configured. The 787 is also capable of flying long-haul routes, making the plane ideal for long-distance, low-volume routes.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) last January ordered all 787s grounded following a battery fire that caused a Japan Airlines flight from the United States to make an emergency landing in Boston.

The FAA is still in the process of studying Boeing’s proposal to fix the 787’s battery problems.

Ang said that were it not for the unforeseen issues with the Dreamliner, PAL would have ordered the plane as the company looked to revamp its fleet of old aircraft with newer, more fuel-efficient jets. The acquisition of new Boeing planes would have been on top of PAL’s existing order for 64 Airbus jets worth $10 billion.