Former Philippine Airlines Airbus A350s Now With a German Carrier Have Better Business Class
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Four Airbus A350s that were previously leased to Philippine Airlines will soon fly under the European airline Lufthansa. And a travel website claims that the ex-PAL planes actually have better business class seats than those of the German flag-carrier.
According to Executive Traveller, Lufthansa leased the planes to beef up its A350s fleet to 21 and strengthen “the five-star airline’s premium offering.”
PAL's A350 business class
Besides being repainted into the colors of the German airline, the A350s will not undergo any other major changes, including the seats.
“Compared to the current product, the incoming aircraft will have an upgraded business class, for example with direct aisle access for all guests,” a Lufthansa spokesman told German aviation site aero.de.
Under PAL, the A350s carried the Vantage XL Suites from Thomspn Aero, which is the same business class platform adopted by airlines such as Qantas and EVA Air, Executive Traveller says.
Lufthansa's current business class
Lufthansa’s existing A350s “have been fitted with the airline's standard business class seats, which are in an outdated 2-2-2 layout and offer far less personal space for each traveller,” the website says.
“The Airbus A350 is one of the most modern aircraft of our time,” Executive Traveller quoted Lufthansa's Dr Detlef Kayser as saying when the A350 lease was announced over the weekend. “Extremely fuel-efficient, very quiet and much more economical than its predecessors. Our customers appreciate not only the sustainability but also the premium flight experience with this aircraft. The lease agreements allow us to remain flexible in fleet planning and make the most of exceptional market opportunities."
Lufthansa is expected to fly the ex-PAL A350s in the first half of 2022.
