Airbus has signed new aircraft orders with Air Mauritius, Qantas and Philippine Airlines (PAL) at the Paris Air Show. Air Mauritius has opted for three A350 aircraft to expand its network in Europe and South Asia. The three latest-generation aircraft will bring Air Mauritius' A350 fleet to a total of seven. The airline already operates four A350 and four A330 Airbus jets.
Australia's Qantas Group has signed an incremental order for ni-e A220-300s, bringing its total backlog for the single-aisle type to 29 aircraft. The A220 was originally selected by Qantas as part of a major fleet replacement programme announced in May 2022, which also included orders for the A321XLR and A350-1000. The carrier had announced its intention to order the additional A220s in February this year. Qantas will take delivery of its first A220 at the end of this year and will operate the type primarily on its extensive domestic route network.
Furthermore, Airbus and Philippine Airlines (PAL) have finalised a purchase agreement for the firm order of nine A350-1000 long-range aircraft. The A350-1000 has been selected under the Philippine carrier's Ultra-Long-Haul-Fleet project and will fly on non-stop services from Manila to North America, including to the East Coast of the U.S. and Canada. The new aircraft will join two A350-900s already in service with the airline. PAL's A350-1000 fleet will be able to accommodate 380 passengers in a three-class layout, with separate cabins for Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy Class.
