Saturday, 5 October 2024
Airlines

PAL welcomes first ex-Garuda Boeing 777

342
RP-C7783 arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 12:19 AM on April 1. (Photo by Shan Eusebio)

A former Garuda Indonesia Boeing 777-3U3ER, which has long been anticipated to join Philippine Airlines’ fleet, touched down at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) just after midnight on April 1, 2024.

The aircraft, bearing Manufacturer’s Serial Number (MSN) 29146 and locally registered as RP-C7783, completed a non-stop 15-hour and 16-minute journey from Victorville, California.

RP-C7783 will replace the outgoing RP-C7776, whose lease agreement has expired.

Upon arrival in Manila, the newly acquired aircraft was already sporting PAL’s iconic Eurowhite livery.

According to sources, PAL has opted to retain the cabin configuration from Garuda Indonesia, at least for now. The configuration features 27 seats in business class and 367 seats in economy class.

Moreover, the decision not to reconfigure means that passengers can expect a more comfortable and spacious business class experience, with Garuda Indonesia’s 1-2-1 seating layout in contrast to PAL’s current 2-3-2 configuration on its Boeing 777 fleet.

This new addition marks the first of two ex-Garuda Boeing 777s joining PAL’s fleet, with the second aircraft (MSN 29147) expected to arrive soon.

To further bolster its widebody fleet, PAL is also expecting to receive the first of nine Airbus A350-1000 XWB in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Written by
Dirk Andrei Salcedo

An aviation enthusiast turned creator of the top aviation news portal in the Philippines, Dirk has a deep passion for everything that flies. When he's not keeping his finger on the pulse of the industry, he also volunteers with a major humanitarian organization, impacting people on the ground and in the sky.

Leave a comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Newsletter

Featured Stories

Categories

Related Articles

Airlines

AirAsia Philippines shares travel booking tips for holiday season

As the holiday season approaches, AirAsia Philippines is providing travelers with booking...

Airlines

PAL launches maiden Seattle flight

National flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Wednesday launched direct air services...

Airlines

Cebu Pacific secures 70 Airbus A321neos, eyes potential for 82 more in landmark deal

Cebu Pacific, the Philippines’ leading low-cost carrier, has signed a purchase agreement...

Airlines

PAL to offer daily flights to Brisbane, expands Australia service

Philippine Airlines (PAL) is set to expand its service to Australia, offering...