AirAsia to launch 4 domestic, 6 international routes this year

MANILA, Philippines -  AirAsia Philippines is set to launch four domestic and six regional destinations this year.

The country’s newest budget carrier is 40 percent owned by Malaysia-based AirAsia Berhad, considered the world’s most successful low-cost carrier, while the rest is owned in equal shares by Antonio “Tonyboy” Cojuangco, port operator Michael Romero and former broadcast journalist Marianne Hontiveros.

Hontiveros, AirAsia Philippines chief executive, told The STAR that they currently have two new Airbus 320s and plan to lease two more within the year.

She revealed that they are scheduled to mount flights from Clark to Kalibo and Clark to Davao anytime soon.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) earlier granted AirAsia Philippines its airline operating certificate (AOC) that would allow it to fly commercially out of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Clark, Pampanga.

Hontiveros earlier said that they plan to mount flights from Clark to Singapore, Hong Kong and Macau.

Aside from the three international destinations, the carrier plans to fly to Kalibo in Aklan province, Puerto Princesa in Palawan province, Incheon in South Korea, and Bangkok in Thailand.

Other than Singapore and Hong Kong, Hontiveros said that they are still waiting the necessary approvals, such as airport slots, among others, to be able to fly to other regional destinations.

She could not say when they are scheduled to mount their first commercial flight but said this will be soon.

In the last quarter of 2011, AirAsia Philippines had been granted rights by the CAB to fly to Malaysia, Cambodia and Japan.

The carrier was granted 1,260 seats a week on the Clark to Kuala Lumpur route, CAB has previously said. It was also granted seven flights per week on the Clark to Cambodia route.

Moreover, AirAsia Philippines was granted six flights per week that it can utilize either on the Clark-Osaka route or Clark-Nagoya route.

The carrier unveiled plans for a $25-million capital expenditure in December 2010.

Its parent has been flying to the country since 2005 from Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu.

AirAsia Philippines had planned to commence operations as early as October last year but failed to do so, pending the receipt of the necessary permits from regulators.

AirAsia Philippines in August last year had already received a temporary operating permit from the Civil Aeronautics Board.

 Last year, the carrier’s first aircraft, a 180-seater Airbus 320, arrived at its hub in Clark. Its second aircraft, meanwhile, was delivered later in 2011.