AirAsia PH says it hit 42 percent of pre-pandemic flights despite Omicron

AFP PHOTO/TED ALJIBE (Photo by TED ALJIBE / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines—AirAsia Philippines reached 42 percent of pre-pandemic flights in January this year as travel demand remained resilient despite the recent COVID surge.

In a statement, the budget carrier said it ramped up leisure and essential trips in January, pushing up year-on-year capacity by 182 percent.

It recorded a 200 percent increase in seats sold in the same comparable period.

“We will continue to service our guests this 2022 with safe and timely flights,” AirAsia Philippines spokesperson Steve Dailisan said.

“We, in the travel industry, also have our sights set on cautiously restoring our pre-pandemic flight frequency this year as we are positive the pandemic will take a turn for the better before end-2022,” he added.

AirAsia Philippine said Caticlan, Cebu and Tacloban remained its top destinations for leisure and essential trips.

In February, it plans to increase domestic flights to Davao, Iloilo, Cagayan De Oro, Bacolod, Puerto Princesa, Panglao and Kalibo.

Despite flight disruptions during the COVID surge, AirAsia Philippines said it flew 2,500 stranded overseas Filipino workers since the middle of January 2022.

TSB