AirAsia Philippines, steered by CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes of Capital A, has set its sights on creating a multitude of job opportunities for the airline. Excitement brims as Fernandes divulges the airline’s short-term and long-term plans, indicating increased investments in the archipelago.
Fernandes’s enthusiasm is palpable as he shares, “We have a great logistics business coming—Teleport Philippines, which we think will be great for e-commerce providers in the Philippines to sell their goods all over.”
Innovating for the Future: Exploring New Ventures
Not stopping at logistics, Fernandes aims to bolster the country’s engineering sector. “We want to build an engineering company here, on top of Lufthansa Technik’s. We would like to bring ADE, which is really a fantastic engineering company,” he explains. Asia Digital Engineering (ADE) is the esteemed engineering division of Capital A, delivering heavy maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services for the group’s commercial aircraft.
In response to the post-pandemic era, AirAsia is prepared to execute major transformations across its operations in the Philippines. From enhancing local e-commerce to establishing engineering operations, these changes aim to strengthen the airline’s presence in the country. Further plans include an enlarged Philippine fleet to bolster domestic and international route expansion.
Connecting the Dots: Enhancing ASEAN Connectivity
Fernandes envisions an interconnected ASEAN region with the Philippines at the heart. “Leisure, migration workforce, and SME travel currently comprise pent-up demand for air travel. 80% of AirAsia’s South-East Asia traffic consists of shorter trips and low-cost travel. With this, we’d like to further connect the Philippines to other ASEAN destinations,” he shares.
To bring these expansive plans to life, Fernandes identifies recruitment as a significant priority in the coming months. He anticipates hiring an additional 1,000 employees to support AirAsia Philippines’ expansion over the next three years. This is in addition to the 6,000 jobs expected from the launch of Capital A’s ride-hailing business in the Philippines.
“Our biggest asset actually is people. People are smart here, people are hard-working, and they have a wonderful personality. So for us, we will grow all four lines of Capital A in the Philippines,” Fernandes asserts.
On the Rise: Opportunities for Job Seekers
In tune with these ambitious plans, AirAsia Philippines has already started the hunt for cabin crew members. Following the first recruitment drive, another event will occur on June 26, 2023, to complete the requirements for additional cabin crew for Q3 2023.
Capital A CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes has charted a bold course for AirAsia Philippines. As the airline spreads its wings, new opportunities will surface for Filipinos across the spectrum. From engineering to e-commerce, the expansion will mark a new chapter of growth and prosperity in the region.
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