Philippines AirAsia explained

Airline:Philippines AirAsia
Iata:Z2
Icao:APG
Callsign:COOL RED
Aoc:2009003[1]
Frequent Flyer:BIG Loyalty Programme[2]
Fleet Size:15
Destinations:29
Parent:AA Com Travel Philippines Inc.
Founded:
Headquarters:Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines
Key People:Ricardo P. Isla (President & CEO)[3]

Philippines AirAsia, Inc. is a Philippine low-cost airline based at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay, Metro Manila.[4] The airline is the Philippine affiliate of the Malaysian AirAsia. The airline started as a joint venture among three Filipino investors and AirAsia Investments Ltd. (later AirAsia Aviation Limited), a subsidiary of AirAsia Berhad.

History

AirAsia Philippines was formally launched on 16 December 2010.[5] On 15 August 2011, AirAsia Philippines took delivery of its first brand-new Airbus A320 aircraft.[6] The airline planned to start operations by 2011 but was delayed due to the long duration of processing the new requirements instituted in 2008.

On 7 February 2012, the airline received its air operator's certificate (AOC).[7] The airline commenced operations on 28 March by launching flights from its base at Clark International Airport to Kalibo and Davao City.[8] It partnered with Victory Liner, one of the largest provincial bus companies operating in the Philippines, to provide free shuttle service for inbound and outbound passengers of Clark International Airport.[9] Within that year, in addition to its first two destinations, AirAsia Philippines launched flights to Puerto Princesa, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taipei.[10]

On 11 March 2013, an agreement was made between AirAsia Philippines to swap shares with Philippine-based airline Zest Airways.[11] Zest Airways received a mix of $16 million cash and a 13% share in AirAsia Philippines, while AirAsia Philippines now owns 85% of Zest Airways, with 49% of its voting rights. The deal closed on 10 May 2013, and Zest Airways was rebranded AirAsia Zest. The agreement also gave AirAsia Philippines access to Ninoy Aquino International Airport, allowing further growth of its route network.[12] By October 2013, AirAsia Philippines closed its Clark base to reduce further losses, and moved its operations to NAIA, initially at Terminal 4.[13] It later moved its international flights to Terminal 3 by 2014.[14] After two years of operating under separate brands, the two airlines merged to a single AOC in September 2015, with the AirAsia Zest brand being retired in December.[15]

It continued its domestic and international expansion; in March 2017, the airline launched flights to Caticlan — the closest airport to Boracay,[16] and reopened its Clark base.[17] In October 2017, it began flying to Iloilo — a destination once served by AirAsia Zest,[18] and started flying to Ho Chi Minh City in November.[19] The following year, it opened a base in Cagayan de Oro.[20]

On 1 July 2019, Philippines AirAsia launched its first flights to Japan, starting with Osaka.[21] On 27 October, it started flying to Bacolod — another former AirAsia Zest destination — and was one of the highlights of that year's MassKara Festival.[22]

The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected Philippines AirAsia's business. Plans for Philippines AirAsia to debut in the Philippine Stock Exchange within 2020 was deferred in March, with the airline management deciding to focus on expanding its domestic operations after a government ban on China and South Korea in response to the worsening health situation threatened 30% of the airlines' revenue.[23] It also retrenched 624 employees due to the pandemic.[24] Flights to General Santos and Zamboanga City — which were originally set to launch in March — began in October.[25]

As travel restrictions eased in 2022, Philippines AirAsia started to rebuild its network by adding more flights, launching flights to Dumaguete and Roxas City, and resuming most international flights starting 27 May 2022.[26] In February 2023, it launched daily flights to Tokyo,[27] and resumed flights to Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Macau.[28] Amid a fleet shortage, flights to General Santos ended in 2022, while flights to Dumaguete and Zamboanga ended in 2023.

On 1 July 2023, Philippines AirAsia transferred its domestic operations at Ninoy Aquino International Airport from the highly congested Terminal 4 to the larger Terminal 2. Although its international flights remained at Terminal 3,[29] it requested to the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) to transfer its international flights to Terminal 1 for operational efficiency. This was rejected by MIAA due to space limitations, given that flag carrier Philippine Airlines have predominantly occupied the terminal with no space for AirAsia to fit in.[30]

In 2024, Philippines AirAsia terminated all flights to China due to weak demand amid geopolitical tensions; it opted instead to focus on destinations with high demand, like Japan.[31]

Corporate affairs

Philippines AirAsia is headquartered at the RedPoint office at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay, Metro Manila. RedPoint has been the airline's headquarters since October 2019; the airline was previously headquartered at the Salem Complex near NAIA Terminal 4.[32]

The airline is a joint venture between three Filipino businessmen and AirAsia. 60% of the airline is owned by Filipino investors Antonio O. Cojuangco, Jr., former owner of Associated Broadcasting Company and owner of Dream Satellite TV, Michael L. Romero, a real estate developer and port operator, and Marianne Hontiveros, a former music industry executive and TV host.[33] The remaining 40% is owned by AirAsia Investments Ltd. (later AirAsia Aviation Limited) of Malaysia. The Public Service Act of the Philippines, prior to its amendment in 2022, only allowed a foreign direct investment of up to 40% in Philippine-registered airlines.[34]

In June 2019, Romero's F&S Holdings bought the shares owned by Alfredo Yao and Hontiveros, thus becoming the new majority shareholder in the company. Four months later, Romero acquired Cojuangco's shares, becoming the sole local owner (and parent company) of the airline.[35] In June 2023, F&S Holdings sold all of its shares to AA Com Travel Philippines for an undisclosed amount.

Destinations

See main article: List of AirAsia Group destinations.

, Philippines AirAsia flies (or has flown) to the following destinations:

Country CityAirportNotesRefs
ChinaChengduChengdu Shuangliu International Airport
GuangzhouGuangzhou Baiyun International Airport[36]
HangzhouHangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport
KunmingKunming Changshui International Airport
ShanghaiShanghai Pudong International Airport
ShenzhenShenzhen Bao'an International Airport
Hong KongHong KongHong Kong International Airport
IndonesiaDenpasarNgurah Rai International Airport
JakartaSoekarno–Hatta International Airport
JapanNagoyaChubu Centrair International Airport[37]
OsakaKansai International Airport[38]
TokyoNarita International Airport[39]
MacauMacauMacau International Airport
MalaysiaKota KinabaluKota Kinabalu International Airport
Kuala LumpurKuala Lumpur International Airport
Philippines (Central Visayas)CebuMactan–Cebu International Airport[40]
DumagueteSibulan Airport[41]
TagbilaranBohol–Panglao International Airport
Philippines (Central Luzon)ClarkClark International Airport<--[42] -->
Philippines (Davao Region)DavaoFrancisco Bangoy International Airport[43]
Philippines (Eastern Visayas)TaclobanDaniel Z. Romualdez Airport
Philippines (Mimaropa)Puerto PrincesaPuerto Princesa International Airport
Philippines (National Capital Region)ManilaNinoy Aquino International Airport
Philippines (Northern Mindanao)Cagayan de OroLaguindingan Airport
Philippines (Soccsksargen)General SantosGeneral Santos International Airport
Philippines (Western Visayas)BacolodBacolod–Silay Airport
CaticlanGodofredo P. Ramos Airport
IloiloIloilo International Airport
KaliboKalibo International Airport
RoxasRoxas Airport
Philippines (Zamboanga Peninsula)ZamboangaZamboanga International Airport[44]
SingaporeSingaporeChangi Airport
South KoreaBusanGimhae International Airport
SeoulIncheon International Airport
TaiwanKaohsiungKaohsiung International Airport[45]
TaipeiTaoyuan International Airport
ThailandBangkokDon Mueang International Airport
VietnamHo Chi Minh CityTan Son Nhat International Airport[46]

Fleet

, Philippines AirAsia operates the following aircraft:[47]

Sports teams

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ACTIVE/CURRENT AOC HOLDERS . . May 30, 2019 . January 8, 2023.
  2. Web site: Join BIG! AirAsia BIG Loyalty Programme. https://web.archive.org/web/20080526140430/http://www.airasia.com/my/en/big/big-loyalty.page. dead. 26 May 2008.
  3. Web site: Valdez . Denise A. . 31 July 2019 . AirAsia PHL names new CEO . BusinessWorld.
  4. Web site: AirAsia launches Philippine joint venture The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online . . 2 June 2011 . 17 December 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101217043632/http://mb.com.ph/articles/293287/airasia-launches-philippine-joint-venture . live .
  5. News: Asia's largest budget airline, Filipino partners take on local industry . Lala . Rimando . December 16, 2010 . ABS-CBN News . November 5, 2022.
  6. Web site: Galang . Bernard . August 16, 2011 . AirAsia first comm'l plane arrives at DMIA from France . dead . https://archive.today/20130416153833/http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/news/provincial/11352-airasia-first-comml-plane-arrives-at-dmia-from-france . 16 April 2013 . People's Journal.
  7. News: New kid on the block: AirAsia Philippines flying soon . Rappler . 7 February 2012 . 14 August 2022.
  8. News: Suarez . K. D. . 28 March 2012 . Philippines' AirAsia finally takes off . Rappler . 14 August 2022.
  9. News: Navales . Reynaldo G . 8 April 2012 . Victory Liner, AirAsia provide free shuttle for Clark passengers . Sun.Star Pampanga . dead . 11 February 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140108034426/http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/2012/04/08/victory-liner-airasia-provide-free-shuttle-clark-passengers-215167 . 8 January 2014.
  10. Annual Report 2012 . Clark International Airport Corporation . n.d. . 4 . 21 November 2022 . Clark International Airport Corporation.
  11. Web site: Dumlao . Doris C. . March 11, 2013 . AirAsia to acquire 40% of Zest Air . November 5, 2022 . Inquirer Business.
  12. News: May 24, 2013 . AirAsia now controls Zest Air . ABS-CBN News . November 5, 2022.
  13. News: Airasia Philippines moves operations hub to NAIA-4 . Danessa O. . Rivera . GMA News . 13 September 2013 . 5 November 2022.
  14. News: AirAsia transfers 3 int'l flights to NAIA 3 . Lawrence . Agcaoili . The Philippine Star . September 11, 2014 . 4 July 2024.
  15. News: Air Asia Zest brand to be phased out . Louise Maureen . Simeon . The Philippine Star . September 27, 2015 . 28 September 2024.
  16. News: AirAsia launches its inaugural flights to Caticlan . Rhys . Buccat . ABS-CBN News . 2017-03-15 . 2024-09-28.
  17. News: From 2 jets to 70: AirAsia returns to its Clark roots . Chrisee . Dela Paz . Rappler . March 28, 2017 . November 5, 2022 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20221105094930/https://r3.rappler.com/business/165343-airasia-philippines-clark-airport-kalibo . November 5, 2022.
  18. News: AirAsia celebrates Iloilo-Manila inaugural flight . 1 October 2017 . Iloilo Today . 28 September 2024.
  19. News: AirAsia PH flies to Vietnam . 2017-09-21 . Inquirer Business . 28 September 2024.
  20. News: Philippines AirAsia to launch Cagayan de Oro hub . Dirk Andrei . Salcedo . August 11, 2018 . Aviation Updates Philippines .
  21. News: AirAsia Philippines to launch Manila-Osaka route on July 1 . Ma. Cristina . Arayata . Philippine News Agency . 30 March 2019 . 4 July 2024.
  22. News: AirAsia launches Manila-Bacolod flights . Nanette . Guadalquiver . October 28, 2019 . Philippine News Agency . September 28, 2024.
  23. News: Camus . Miguel . March 2, 2020 . COVID-19 crisis puts AirAsia IPO plan on hold . Philippine Daily Inquirer. March 2, 2020.
  24. News: AirAsia PH to welcome back over 400 hibernating staff . Ma. Cristina . Arayata . Philippine News Agency . 25 November 2021 . 4 July 2024.
  25. News: AirAsia launches flights to Zamboanga, General Santos . Ted . Cordero . GMA News . October 28, 2020 . September 28, 2024.
  26. News: AirAsia relaunches overseas routes with Kinabalu flight . May 31, 2022 . PortCalls Asia . February 9, 2023.
  27. News: AirAsia launches Manila-Tokyo flights . February 2, 2023 . PortCalls Asia . February 9, 2023.
  28. Web site: AirAsia Philippines set to resume flights to China . BusinessWorld . 6 February 2023 . February 7, 2023.
  29. News: Domestic flights back at NAIA Terminal 2 . July 4, 2024 . CNN Philippines . July 2, 2023 . July 5, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230705121326/https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/7/2/Domestic-flights-back-at-NAIA-Terminal-2.html . dead .
  30. News: MIAA studies moving foreign flights of AirAsia to Terminal 1 . July 3, 2023 . Justine Irish D. . Tabile . BusinessWorld . September 28, 2024.
  31. News: AirAsia Philippines to halt Manila-China flights in Q4 2024 . Jon Viktor D. . Cabuenas . GMA Integrated News . September 9, 2024 . September 28, 2024.
  32. News: AirAsia unveils sprawling RedPoint office in the Philippines . AirAsia Newsroom . 9 October 2019 . 6 January 2023.
  33. Web site: AirAsia insider: Marianne Hontiveros . 7 June 2013 . Macroaxis.
  34. News: Duterte signs law allowing full foreign ownership in key sectors . 22 March 2022 . Kyle Aristophere T. . Atienza . BusinessWorld . 6 December 2022.
  35. News: Romero family exits airline business . Richmond . Mercurio . The Philippine Star . 6 June 2023 . 6 June 2023 .
  36. Web site: Philippines AirAsia NW24 International Service Changes . Aeroroutes . 24 September 2024 . 28 September 2024.
  37. News: Nagoyo! Tony Fernandes scraps new Philippine-Japan route shortly before anyone could fly after teasing P888 AirAsia fare just weeks ago . Bilyonaryo . 20 October 2024 . 20 October 2024 .
  38. Web site: Philippines AirAsia Resumes Osaka Service in Dec 2022 . Aeroroutes . 30 November 2022.
  39. Web site: PHILIPPINES AIRASIA SCHEDULES TOKYO SERVICE FROM FEB 2023 . AeroRoutes . January 25, 2023.
  40. News: AirAsia reopens Cebu hub, eyes more flights from MCIA . Earl Kim . Padronia . Carlo . Lorenciana . August 16, 2022 . SunStar . November 5, 2022.
  41. News: Piad . Tyrone Jasper . 2022-03-19 . AirAsia adds more domestic flights as demand surges . en . Inquirer.net . 2022-04-08.
  42. News: 4 January 2022 . Philippines AirAsia reopens Clark hub, ups frequencies . ch-aviation.com . 5 November 2022.
  43. Web site: Philippines AirAsia NW24 Service Changes – 10NOV24 . Aeroroutes . 11 November 2024 . 24 November 2024.
  44. News: Balinbin . Arjay L. . 22 January 2020 . AirAsia set to fly to Zamboanga, General Santos and Dumaguete . .
  45. News: This Low-Cost Airline Is Flying Direct to Kaohsiung in 2023 . Leana . Vibal . SPOT.ph . 9 December 2022 . 18 December 2022.
  46. Web site: Liu . Jim . 23 January 2020 . Philippines AirAsia resumes Manila – Ho Chi Minh City service from late-March 2020 . routesonline.com.
  47. Web site: AirAsia's Capital A Eyes 50 New Aircraft For Philippines Aviation Week Network . 2023-08-03 . aviationweek.com.

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