PAL Leasing Two Airbus A330-200s For Upcoming Peak Travel Period

Philippine Airlines (PAL) has announced it will lease two Airbus A330-200 aircraft with a dual-class configuration to enhance its fleet management and operational resilience during the upcoming peak travel season.

PAL has entered into a temporary wet-lease agreement with Wamos Air, a leading European charter and wet lease carrier. I Photo: Allen Zhao Wikimedia Commons

This strategic move aims to address increased demand and maintain service quality amid ongoing global supply chain challenges affecting the aviation industry.

PAL disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) that it has entered into a temporary wet-lease agreement with Wamos Air, a leading European charter and wet lease carrier. The leased aircraft will operate on PAL’s Manila-Sydney-Manila and Manila-Melbourne-Manila routes for a five-month period starting June 1, 2024.

PAL operates daily flights to Sydney and five weekly services to Melbourne.

The airline assured passengers that the amenities on the leased A330-200s will be comparable to those on PAL aircraft and that both on-ground and inflight services will meet the same standards.

PAL cabin crew will be on board to deliver the airline’s trademark service.

Capt. Stanley K. Ng, President and CEO of PAL, explained the decision, stating, “We have additional maintenance requirements during this period due to global supply chain issues that continue to impact the industry. We see the need to temporarily add these aircraft to ensure that we have sufficient capacity to meet the demand that we are anticipating across our network.”

In a wet lease arrangement, the lessor provides the aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance (ACMI) to another airline for a specified period.

Capt. Ng emphasized that PAL chose Wamos Air due to its reputation as a leading charter carrier in Europe and its track record in successfully completing wet-lease operations for over 50 airlines globally.

Wamos Air is certified by the International Air Transport Association’s Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), ensuring a high standard of operational safety and service.

PAL’s decision to lease additional aircraft underscores its commitment to maintaining robust service levels and operational efficiency during peak travel periods, ensuring that passenger demand is met without compromising on service quality.