Budget airline ready to serve Asean influx

CEBU, Philippines - Budget carrier AirAsia Zest expressed readiness to serve the influx of passenger movement under the opened ASEAN gateways starting next year.

"Compared to other airlines, we are more ready to operate under the regional integration, as we are already an ASEAN carrier," claimed AirAsia Zest chief executive officer Joy Caneba.

She said the airline is better prepared because of its strong network being a regional player in the Asean.

With established presence and operations in Malaysia, Thailand, India, Indonesia, Japan, as well as the Philippines, she said the airline will not be having difficulties in opening more direct flights within the region.

Within 12 years of operations, AirAsia has carried over 250 million guests and grown its fleet from just two aircrafts to over 160.

She added that the extensive network allows the airline to access more countries without having to go through bilateral air talks and processes.

AirAsia Philippines is 40 percent owned by AirAsia Berhad while 60 percent is controlled by Filipino investors.

AirAsia was named the World's Best Low Cost Airline in the annual World Airline Survey by Skytrax for six consecutive years from 2009-2014.

In a report, the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations Single Aviation Market, dubbed the open skies policy as seeking to liberalize air services under a single and unified air transport market in ASEAN by next year.

Air travel is part of a larger discussion among the proposed ASEAN Economic Community, whose objective is to increase economic integration among members through the harmonization of trade and investment policies under a single market and production base.

The AEC, also slated for 2015, will rapidly transform the region into a fiercely competitive, unified player in the world’s economy, boosting intraregional trade and investment flows and attracting investors to take advantage of a significant consumer market.

Southeast Asia already boasts a combined GDP of more than $2.2 trillion and a population of approximately 620 million, exceeding NAFTA and the European Union in size. Regional trade and investment liberalization have further increased production networks to less-developed and previously restricted countries, including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. — (FREEMAN)