PHILIPPINES: Philippines AirAsia Introduces New Routes

Philippines AirAsia introduced a new service between Cebu (CEB), the host airport of Routes Asia 2019, and Macau (MFM) on 8 February.

The LCC will operate the 1,717-kilometre connection daily using its fleet of A320s. It faces direct competition from Cebu Pacific Air, which already serves this airport pair with four weekly flights.

Cebu becomes Philippines AirAsia’s second link to Macau after Manila. The airline is scheduled to begin a third route to Macau on 2 March with the launch of services from Kalibo.

Philippines AirAsia returned to Cagayan de Oro (CGY) on 28 October, when it launched three new domestic connections to Cebu (CEB), Clark (CRK) and Manila (MNL).

The LCC last served Cagayan de Oro in August 2015. All three links will be operated by the carrier’s A320 fleet and each one will face direct competition from incumbent carriers.

The short 195-kilometre hop to Cebu will be flown daily, and is already served by Philippine Airlines (21 weekly flights), Cebgo (14) and Cebu Pacific Air (7). The 845-kilometre Clark connection will operate four times weekly and is already served by Philippine Airlines with 10 weekly services.

Philippines AirAsia will serve the 753-kilometre Manila route twice daily. Cebu Pacific Air and Philippine Airlines already provide 56 and 30 weekly flights on this airport pair respectively.

On 30 October, the LCC will add another node to its Cagayan de Oro network when it introduces flights to Ilo Ilo.

Philippines AirAsia commenced two new links in the past week with the launch of flights from Cebu (CEB) to Shenzhen (SZX) on 9 May, and from Clark (CRK) to Cebu on 11 May.

The LCC will operate daily services with A320s on both the 1,745-kilometre Chinese sector, and on the 657-kilometre domestic link. There is no direct competition on the Cebu-Shenzhen route, but Cebu Pacific Air and Philippine Airlines both already operate 10 weekly flights on the Clark-Cebu connection.

Philippines AirAsia will operate to three Chinese destinations from Cebu this summer, with Shanghai Pudong and Hangzhou also being served. It will provide seven domestic destinations from Clark in S18.

Philippines AirAsia launched services between Cebu (CEB) and Hangzhou (HGH) on 18 May. The LCC will operate the 2,243-kilometre airport pair twice-weekly, with flights departing Cebu late in the evening on Mondays and Fridays before returning from Hangzhou in the early hours on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Flights will be operated by the carrier’s A320 fleet and there is no direct competition. The airline previously operated this route three times weekly for a short season between 24 January and 18 March 2017. The Cebu link is the carrier’s only current connection to Hangzhou.

Philippines AirAsia launched a new link between Manila (MNL) and Bangkok Don Mueang (DMK) on 22 April. The 2,200-kilometre connection will link the capital cities of the Philippines and Thailand with daily flights operated by A320s.

There is no direct competition, but schedules show that multiple carriers including Philippine Airlines and Thai Airways will operate a combined 46 weekly flights from Manila to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi during the week commencing 24 April.

AirAsia is a product of Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and we are so proud to be part of this region we call home, said Dexter Comendador, CEO Philippines AirAsia.

We are the only airline that carries the - I love Asean - painted on our aircraft including the ASEAN logo. AirAsia loves Asean is a commitment to help bridge communities and economies as we move toward even greater integration and mutual understanding.

Kajorndet Apichartrakul, Director, Tourism Authority of Thailand, said: We want to bring people across the Asean region closer together and further expand our Asean footprint to serve more and more communities.

We have 100% load for this inaugural flight and we hope to do more inter-Asean routes to serve every Filipino traveller’s needs and enable them to connect, do business and build socio-economic ties with neighbouring economies.

Philippines AirAsia introduced a new route between Clark (CRK) and Seoul Incheon (ICN) on 19 January. It will operate the 2,543-kilometre airport pair three times weekly using A320s.

There is a considerable amount of incumbent competition on the sector, with Asiana Airlines, Jeju Air, Jin Air, Philippine Airlines and that way Philippines AirAsia is already offering daily services.

We are staying true to our commitment to provide the much needed international connectivity and convenience for travellers in Metro Manila, Central, and Northern Luzon, said Gomer Monreal, Director of Flight Operations, Philippines AirAsia.

The future of aviation, travel, and tourism is taking shape in Clark. Now more than ever, Clark is truly saving us from air traffic congestion, and enabling airlines and travellers to enjoy the convenience of travelling.

This inaugural flight is a fantastic opportunity for Filipino travellers to explore and experience winter in Korea.

Philippines AirAsia also offers flights from Clark to seven domestic destinations during W18/19. Its only other international link from Clark this winter is to Taipei Taoyuan.


Tourism Observer