MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine Airlines (PAL) said late on Tuesday it is considering delaying delivery of Airbus (PA:AIR) planes it has on order as it reviews operations after Filipino billionaire tycoon Lucio Tan resumed management control of the carrier last month.
The airline is currently scheduled to take delivery of its 30th Airbus jet in November under a $7 billion (4.36 billion pounds) deal to buy 44 new A320 and 20 new A330 aircraft signed in 2012, including firm orders and options for more purchases. It's scheduled to take 10 more aircraft in 2015 and another 10 in 2016.
"We have to discuss with Airbus," Jaime Bautista, PAL general manager, told reporters at an event in Manila. "It can be deferred, but of course that entails cost if you defer delivery."
The airline has decided to indefinitely defer planned opening of new routes in Europe, instead focusing on profitable routes in North America amid a shortage of aircraft for long-haul flights in its fleet, Batista said.
(Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell)