Capital A, the parent company of AirAsia, has big plans for AirAsia Philippines. They’re looking to invest a whopping $1 billion into the country, focusing on developing their network from Mactan-Cebu International Airport. The CEO of Capital A, Tony Fernandes, has expressed the company’s desire to increase the fleet of AirAsia Philippines to 50 jets, with a particular emphasis on Cebu. They’re also planning to set up a maintenance, repair, and overhaul venture in Cagayan de Oro, on the island of Mindanao.
Currently, AirAsia Philippines operates 18 in-service Airbus A320s, with another seven stored or parked. The airline is already flying from Cebu to various international destinations like China, Japan, Malaysia, and South Korea.
New Destinations and Partnerships
Fernandes has big plans for the airline, including establishing links to destinations in Australia, Bali, and Bangkok. He’s in Cebu to sign a partnership with Aboitiz Group’s UnionDigital Bank to develop a logistics business in the Philippines. The Aboitiz Group also holds a 33.3% stake in Mactan-Cebu International Airport, making this partnership even more significant.
According to data from CAPA – Centre for Aviation and OAG Schedules Analyser, AirAsia Philippines is the third-largest airline in Cebu, following Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines. The airline’s top destinations include Manila, Seoul Incheon, and Singapore.
A Call for Low-Cost Airports
Fernandes is not just focused on expanding the airline’s reach; he’s also advocating for the privatization and construction of new low-cost airports in the Philippines. He praises the privately run Cebu Airport as a “fantastic experiment” and sees it as a case study for successful airport development. He believes that airport developers and investors should consider building low-cost airports that are cheaper and faster to build and operate, catering to passengers traveling point to point.
Capital A’s plan to have 50 jets for AirAsia Philippines has got us all excited. I’ve even had a chat with Tony himself, and he confirmed that they’re looking at widebody Airbus A330 jets. But we’re still guessing whether these will be A330neos or A330-300s. I’m also keeping my fingers crossed to see the upcoming A321neos make their way to the Philippines.
But no matter what, things are looking up for AirAsia Philippines. With Capital A putting their focus on the Philippines, the future seems bright.
Source: Aviation Week
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