This article is based on an official press release from Airbus.

Philippine Airlines Consolidates Maintenance Strategy with Major Airbus FHS Extension

Philippine Airlines (PAL) has solidified its long-term operational strategy by signing a comprehensive extension of its Flight Hour Services (FHS) agreement with Airbus. Announced on February 5, 2026, this new contract unifies support across the carrier’s entire Airbus fleet, ensuring consistent maintenance standards for its domestic, regional, and ultra-long-haul operations.

According to the official press release from Airbus, the agreement covers a total of 63 Commercial-Aircraft. This includes the airline’s newly introduced A350-1000s, which serve as the flagship vessels for PAL’s transpacific routes, as well as its existing widebody A330 and narrowbody A320 families. The deal underscores a deepening relationship between the Manila-based carrier and the European Manufacturers, focusing on cost predictability and fleet reliability.

Scope of the Agreement

The extended FHS contract is designed to provide “Power-by-the-Hour” support, a model that allows Airlines to manage maintenance costs based on flight activity rather than fluctuating repair expenses. The agreement encompasses a wide range of technical services tailored to minimize downtime and enhance dispatch reliability.

Fleet Breakdown

Data provided in the announcement confirms that the support package covers the following 63 aircraft:

• 9 Airbus A350-1000s: These aircraft are central to PAL’s “Ultra Long Haul Fleet project,” capable of non-stop service to the U.S. East Coast and Canada.
• 11 Airbus A330 Family aircraft: Utilized primarily for high-density regional and medium-haul routes.
• 43 Airbus A320 Family aircraft: A mix of ceo and neo variants serving the carrier’s extensive domestic and Asian network.

Key Services and Logistics

Under the terms of the agreement, Airbus will provide comprehensive component support through a standard exchange model. Crucially, the deal includes the provision of on-site stock directly at PAL’s main base in Manila. This proximity is intended to drastically reduce turnaround times for parts replacement, minimizing Aircraft on Ground (AOG) situations.

Furthermore, the Partnerships leverages Airbus’ engineering expertise and data-driven capabilities. The service includes component reliability monitoring and predictive maintenance powered by Skywise, Airbus’ open data platform. This technology aims to forecast component failures before they occur, allowing maintenance teams to replace parts during scheduled intervals rather than reacting to unexpected technical issues.

Strategic Partnership and History

This 2026 agreement marks the culmination of a partnership that began in 2018, when PAL first signed an FHS contract for its initial A350-900 fleet. The relationship expanded in 2022 to include the A320 and A330 families, signaling the airline’s confidence in the manufacturer’s aftermarket services during the post-pandemic recovery phase.

Anand Stanley, President of Airbus Asia-Pacific, highlighted the significance of the deal in a statement included in the press release:

“We thank Philippine Airlines for extending its Flight Hour Services agreements across its entire Airbus fleet… This demonstrates the strength of our long-standing partnership and our shared commitment to operational excellence. By delivering comprehensive component support and on-site services in Manila, we are helping PAL optimise fleet performance while benefiting from predictable, long-term maintenance costs.”

AirPro News Analysis

The consolidation of maintenance contracts into a single OEM-backed agreement represents a strategic shift for Philippine Airlines. By locking in fixed-rate maintenance costs for its flagship A350-1000s alongside its regional fleet, PAL is effectively hedging against the volatility of the aftermarket supply chain, a sector that has faced significant disruptions in recent years.

From an operational standpoint, the inclusion of the A350-1000 is particularly critical. As PAL competes in the premium ultra-long-haul market against other Southeast Asian carriers, the dispatch reliability of these specific airframes is paramount. A technical delay on a 16-hour flight to New York is far more disruptive and costly than one on a short domestic hop. By securing direct access to Airbus’ global inventory and predictive data, PAL is prioritizing the reliability of its most high-profile revenue generators.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Airbus Flight Hour Services (FHS)?
Airbus FHS is a comprehensive maintenance service where airlines pay a fixed rate per flight hour. In exchange, Airbus handles component supply, repair, and engineering support, guaranteeing parts availability and reducing the airline’s need to maintain its own massive inventory.

Why is the A350-1000 important to Philippine Airlines?
The A350-1000 is the largest variant in the A350 family and serves as PAL’s ultra-long-haul flagship. It enables non-stop flights from the Philippines to the East Coast of North America, a key market for the airline.

Does this agreement cover engines?
Typically, Airbus FHS agreements cover airframe components and engineering services. Engine maintenance is usually covered under separate agreements with engine manufacturers (e.g., Rolls-Royce or Pratt & Whitney), though specific details on engine coverage were not outlined in this release.

Sources

• Airbus

This article is based on an official press release from Boeing.

Boeing Delivers 100th 787 Landing Gear Exchange to All Nippon Airways

On February 4, 2026, Boeing marked a significant operational milestone in its Global Services division by completing the 100th delivery of a 787 Landing Gear Exchange (LGE) shipset. According to an official press release issued during the Singapore Airshow, the recipient of this milestone unit was All Nippon Airways (ANA), the global launch customer and largest operator of the 787 Dreamliner.

The delivery highlights the growing reliance of major carriers on exchange programs to maintain fleet efficiency. Boeing stated that the LGE program has now contracted exchanges for over 480 aircraft across 34 airlines worldwide. For ANA specifically, this delivery represents the 30th time the airline has utilized the exchange program to service its extensive Dreamliner fleet.

Operational Efficiency and Program Details

The Landing Gear Exchange program is designed to offer airlines an alternative to the traditional, capital-intensive overhaul process. In its announcement, Boeing explained that the program allows carriers to swap unserviceable landing gear for fully overhauled and certified sets from Boeing’s inventory pool.

Speed vs. Traditional Overhaul

Standard landing gear overhauls can be logistically complex and time-consuming. According to industry data referenced in the report, a traditional overhaul cycle often requires 30 to 50 days, during which the aircraft might be grounded unless the airline owns expensive spare gear sets. In contrast, the LGE program aims to drastically reduce this downtime. Boeing notes that replacement gear is often ready to ship within 24 hours, allowing the physical swap on the aircraft to be completed in just a few days.

Executive Commentary

Both Boeing and ANA executives emphasized the role of this program in maintaining operational stability. Yukifumi Ueda, Vice President and General Manager of Engine, Component & Supply Chain at ANA, highlighted the safety and efficiency benefits in the company statement:

“The Landing Gear Exchange program has been instrumental in optimizing our maintenance operations and ensuring the highest levels of safety… This latest delivery demonstrates our strong partnership with Boeing.”

William Ampofo, Senior Vice President of Parts & Distribution and Supply Chain for Boeing Global Services, noted the company’s focus on availability:

“This milestone reinforces our dedication to providing airlines with critical parts when and where needed to maximize fleet availability… We are also investing in and expanding our exchange pool capacity to meet the growing needs of our customers.”

Strategic Implications for Fleet Management

The milestone delivery in Singapore underscores a shift in how airlines manage heavy maintenance assets. By utilizing an exchange pool, carriers like ANA can avoid the significant capital expenditure required to purchase and store their own spare landing gear sets, which can cost millions of dollars per shipset.

AirPro News Analysis

Supply Chain Resilience: In our view, the success of the LGE program, evidenced by reaching 100 deliveries, signals a broader industry trend toward “parts-as-a-service” models. For an airline with a fleet as large as ANA’s (approximately 86 Dreamliners), the logistical burden of managing individual overhaul schedules for landing gear is immense. Transferring the inventory risk and technical records management to the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) allows the airline to focus on flight operations rather than heavy maintenance logistics.

Furthermore, the timing of this announcement at the Singapore Airshow 2026 is strategic. It demonstrates to the Asian market, a critical hub for widebody operations, that Boeing’s aftermarket supply chain is maturing effectively, a crucial reassurance given global supply chain disruptions in recent years.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Landing Gear Exchange (LGE) program?
It is a service where airlines exchange their unserviceable landing gear for a fully overhauled, ready-to-install set from Boeing’s inventory, rather than waiting for their specific gear to be repaired.

Why is the 100th delivery significant?
It validates the program’s maturity and market acceptance. Reaching 100 exchanges proves that major carriers prefer the speed and cost certainty of the exchange model over traditional ownership and overhaul methods.

How many airlines use this program?
According to Boeing’s data, 34 airlines globally have contracted the LGE service for over 480 aircraft.

Sources

• Boeing Media Room

This article is based on an official press release from RTX.

RTX’s Pratt & Whitney Canada Secures 15-Year Maintenance Deal with Scoot

Pratt & Whitney Canada, a business unit of RTX, has officially announced the signing of a 15-year maintenance agreement with Scoot, the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines. The contract, finalized on February 3, 2026, covers the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of the APS5000 auxiliary power units (APUs) installed on Scoot’s fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

According to the company’s announcement, the agreement encompasses a minimum of 24 APS5000 units. This deal represents a renewal and expansion of a relationship that began in 2014, when Scoot first introduced the widebody 787 into its operations. The long-term contract is designed to provide the airline with predictable maintenance costs and guaranteed dispatch reliability, critical factors for a low-cost carrier operating high-utilization routes.

Scope of the Agreement

The 15-year term underscores a significant commitment from both parties to secure long-term operational stability. Under the terms of the agreement, Pratt & Whitney Canada will provide comprehensive support for the APS5000 engines, which are essential for the ground operations of the Boeing 787. The manufacturer stated that the service model focuses on delivering “long-term durability” and ensuring that the APUs remain at peak performance levels throughout their lifecycle.

Anthony Rossi, vice president of Customer Service at Pratt & Whitney Canada, highlighted the strategic nature of the renewal in a statement included in the press release:

“This new contract builds on the longstanding relationship we have developed with Scoot. The maintenance solutions we provide our customers help ensure the peak performance of the APS5000 APU fleet, delivering predictable maintenance costs, long-term durability and dispatch reliability.”

Technical Context: The APS5000 APU

The APS5000 is a critical component of the Boeing 787’s “more electric” architecture. Unlike traditional auxiliary power units that use bleed air to start main engines, the APS5000 is the industry’s first all-electric APU for large commercial aircraft. It generates 450kVA of electrical power, which is used to start the main engines and power cabin systems, such as air conditioning and avionics, while the aircraft is on the ground.

According to data provided by RTX, the company has manufactured more than 1,400 APS5000 units to date. These units have accumulated nearly 16 million flight hours globally. The system is also marketed as the quietest in its class with the lowest emissions, a key consideration for operators flying into airports with strict noise and environmental curfews.

AirPro News Analysis

We view this 15-year agreement as a strategic defensive move by Scoot to mitigate supply chain volatility. In the current aviation landscape, where MRO capacity is often strained, “locking in” direct OEM support ensures that Scoot receives priority access to parts and technical expertise. For a low-cost carrier (LCC), the APU represents a potential single point of failure on the ground; if an APU fails at a remote airport without adequate ground power units, the aircraft cannot start its engines, leading to costly delays.

By securing a “power-by-the-hour” style arrangement, Scoot effectively transfers the technical risk of these complex, all-electric systems back to the manufacturer. This allows the airline to stabilize its operating expenses over the next decade and a half, ensuring that its widebody fleet maintains the quick turnaround times necessary for its business model.

Sources

Sources: RTX