AirAsia readies flights to Hong Kong, Macau

Budget carrier AirAsia Inc., the country’s newest airline, will launch its second and third international routes next month as it adds more flights to its hub in Clark Freeport, Pampanga.

Flights to Hong Kong and Macau, which do not require visas from visiting Filipinos unlike other Chinese cities, will be launched on July 19, the company said Wednesday.

This follows the opening of AirAsia’s Clark-Kuala Lumpur route last week.

“Business travelers and overseas Filipino workers (OFW) will welcome these new routes while it provides tourists and shoppers exciting choices,” AirAsia CEO Marianne Hontiveros said in a statement.

AirAsia said the launch of the two flights would make tourist attractions in Macau and Hong Kong more accessible to Filipinos, and vice versa.

“With AirAsia providing awesome and daily connectivity between these two popular destinations and the Philippines, we can tap tourists from Hong Kong and Macau to include a trip to our amazing beaches, diving spots and natural wonders in their itinerary,” Hontiveros said.

To mark the launch, AirAsia said it launched a new “all-in” sale, with one-way tickets to Hong Kong selling for as low as P688, and tickets to Macau going for as low as P588.

The AirAsia group, founded by music industry executive Tony Fernandes, has been named SkyTrax’s best low-cost airline for the last three years.