MANILA - Philippine Airlines is planning to buy a large number of planes with the demand for travel expected to rise further, PAL President and Chief Operating Officer Stanley Ng said on Tuesday.

He said the order is being considered and that it may be announced in the future.

Ng said the company actually planned to do a study on aircraft order last year, however it got delayed. But it’s definitely still being eyed especially as new airports are being constructed and tourism is also expected to grow in the coming years.

“Last year we were supposed to study and make a longer-term plan because with all the developments in our country as well. There will be a new airport, new capacity will come in. We have to prepare for that. We have to be ready. We can’t order planes when the airport is already online. It’s thinking ahead also,” Ng told ABS-CBN.

Asked if it will be about 100 aircraft, Ng said the flag carrier still has pending orders, "but if you add those pending orders, maybe around that number.”

PAL has so far ordered 9 wide-body A350-1000 jets with an option to add 3 more for its long-haul flights. The first aircraft will be delivered next year. While 13 A321 neo aircraft are also expected to arrive starting mid 2026.

Ng also is optimistic about the privatization of the operations of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport starting September.

“Innovation will start coming in by September, hopefully we can already see some innovations by the end of the year, because especially it’s Christmas peak season and that’s the best time for travelers to enjoy those innovations that will be implemented at the airport already," he said.

Rival Cebu Pacific has earlier announced it will buy up to 152 aircraft from Airbus for P1.4 trillion, the largest aircraft order in the country. The budget carrier also cited the expected growth of the economy and the building of new airports as among the main reasons it will compete such a big order.