AirAsia PH targets flights to Sydney, Fukuoka

Budget carrier AirAsia Philippines is targeting to provide direct flights to Sydney and Fukuoka by the first quarter of next year as it ramps up its fleet reactivation.

Ricardo Isla, CEO of the low-cost airline, told reporters last week they were waiting for the delivery of additional aircraft before adding flights to Australia and Japan.

For now, he said the Manila-Narita, Manila-Osaka and Cebu-Narita routes were performing well.

“Right now, Japan is really the blockbuster destination,” he said.

Prior to this, AirAsia announced its plan to establish a direct flight from Manila to the United States by 2025. This is part of the multi-hub strategy by the low-cost airline, which is present in Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, and Thailand.

The local unit of AirAsia is in the process of reactivating its aircraft. By the end of this year, it targets to have 25 operational units, or the same number of jets it was handling prior to the pandemic.

Currently, it has 16 aircraft servicing passengers.

AirAsia Philippines flew 6.6 million passengers last year, up 57 percent from 4.22 million in 2022. This year, it targets to have a passenger volume of 7 million.

It ended 2023 with a 91-percent load factor, up from 89 percent in 2022.

“Our success and growth in passenger capacity reflects the strong demand for air travel,” Isla said in a recent statement.

“This 2024, we will continue to strengthen our domestic presence while leveraging on our strong route network across Asean and beyond,” he added. INQ