Philippine Airlines Orders Up to 20 Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners

Philippine Airlines (PAL) has selected the Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner to anchor its future widebody fleet, announcing a commitment for up to 20 of the aircraft on July 20, 2026, at the Farnborough International Airshow. The agreement includes 15 firm commitments and five purchase options, marking the largest widebody order in the 85-year history of the carrier.

In a press release issued by The Boeing Company, the manufacturer confirmed the selection will support the airline’s fleet modernization and expansion strategy. The 787-10s are slated to replace older widebody aircraft, increasing capacity on medium- and long-haul routes while reducing fuel consumption by 25 percent compared to the jets they will replace.

Fleet modernization and delivery timeline

The new Boeing 787-10s will replace roughly equal numbers of Boeing 777-300ERs and Airbus A330-300s currently operating in the Philippine Airlines fleet, according to reporting by Aviation Week. Deliveries of the new Dreamliners are scheduled to begin in 2031 and continue through the early to mid-2030s.

Aviation Week reported that Philippine Airlines CEO Richard Nuttall noted the 2031 delivery timeline aligns with the lifecycle of the carrier’s current widebody assets.

“If you look at our current medium-haul and long-haul aircraft, they gradually get to the end of their second 12-year period in that time,” Nuttall said.

The 787-10 offers a passenger capacity of 300 to 375 and a maximum range of 13,890 kilometers (7,500 nautical miles). Philippine Airlines currently operates 10 Boeing 777 jets, which will eventually be phased out as the new Boeing aircraft arrive.

Strategic widebody expansion

The Boeing commitment is part of a broader dual-fleet strategy for the Manila-based carrier. On July 21, 2026, Philippine Airlines signed a Memorandum of Understanding for nine additional Airbus A350-1000s. Aviation Week reported that the airline evaluated the Airbus A330neo but ultimately selected the larger Boeing 787-10 and Airbus A350-1000 models to meet higher passenger demand and cargo capacity requirements.

The Boeing agreement coincides with a historic milestone for the airline. Lucio C. Tan III, President and Chief Operating Officer of PAL Holdings, Inc., highlighted the 80-year partnership between the airline and the US manufacturer.

“This investment manifests our confidence in the future of Philippine Airlines and the continued growth of air travel. The Boeing 787-10 will strengthen our medium and long-haul fleet, allowing us to provide an even better travel experience for our customers while improving operational efficiency and supporting our long-term sustainability goals,” Tan said.

Stephanie Pope, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, stated the manufacturer looks forward to delivering the advanced-technology airplanes to deepen connections across Asia and beyond.

AirPro News analysis

We note that Boeing’s press release carefully characterizes this agreement as a “commitment” rather than a finalized firm order. While the commercial selection is clear, the deal will not officially appear on Boeing’s backlog until the final purchase agreements are signed.

Philippine Airlines’ decision to bypass the Airbus A330neo in favor of the Boeing 787-10 and Airbus A350-1000 underscores a distinct pivot toward maximizing payload and cargo volume on slot-constrained routes. As the airline prepares to join the oneworld Alliance following its 2026 invitation, this upgauged widebody fleet will provide the necessary capacity to integrate more deeply into the alliance’s global network.

Sources: The Boeing Company