AirAsia Philippines scales up Taiwan flight frequency

MANILA, Philippines — Low-cost carrier AirAsia Philippines is scaling up its flight frequency to Taiwan in preparation for a demand boom due to the extension of Taipei’s visa-free policy.

The airline said it is raising its flight volume to Taipei to 17 times weekly, from 14 times currently.

AirAsia Philippines CEO Suresh Bangah said Taipei is one of the airline’s strongest routes right now, and this is expected to continue for the rest of the year.

Bangah said his confidence comes from the extension of visa-free policy for Filipinos. Recently, Taiwan extended visa-free entry for Filipino travelers for up to 14 days until July 31, 2026.

Bangah said AirAsia Philippines expects demand to start picking up by the time September hits, as Filipinos look for international destinations with a cooler climate.

“The additional flights come at the perfect time as we enter the (third quarter) and gear up for the peak travel season,” Bangah said.

“This move gets us ready for the expected surge in demand during the ‘ber’ months – when many Filipinos head to Taipei to enjoy its cooler climate from September through February,” he added.