Philippine Airlines (PR, Manila Ninoy Aquino International) will operate its last B747-400 commercial flight on June 30 between Manila Ninoy Aquino International and San Francisco. Thereafter, according to Airline Route, the quadjet will be replaced on the route by the B777-300ER.

In a recent press conference held in Manila outlining the carrier's future plans, PAL president and chief operating officer, Ramon Ang, told the Filipino press his airline was evaluating its options for a new aircraft order. Among the offerings under consideration are the B777X and A350-1000, he said.

"At the end of the day,” Ang told The Rappler newswire, "our aspiration is for PAL to operate at least 100 aircraft so there will be economies of scale."

Ang said that aircraft scheduled for withdrawal in the near future include its four B747-400s, four A340-300s, and eight older A330s.

With the recent lifting of EU and US sanctions against the country's aviation scene, PAL has set its sights on returning to Europe in a big way with flights to Paris CDG, Rome Fiumicino and Amsterdam Schiphol currently planned while New York JFK is also said to be a long-term objective.