Low-cost carrier AirAsia Philippines plans to seek for additional airport slots to support the 20 percent growth in its domestic market by 2024.
At the recent Department of Transportation (DOTr) budget hearing, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said there should be equal distribution of unutilized slots to airlines that could operate now to provide more flights for Filipinos.
In particular, Zubiri mentioned AirAsia Philippines which is now boosting its fleet through the backing of Capital A.
“AirAsia is buying more planes and their problem is that they cannot use the planes because they have no slots. I’m just lobbying for our passengers because we need more flights, particularly Cagayan De Oro, Cebu, and other destinations in the Philippines,” Zubiri stressed.
Steve Dailisan, AirAsia country head for communications and public affairs, said the additional slots will allow the airline to flourish in Visayas and Mindanao especially since it plans to grow its domestic market by 20 percent in 2024.
“Additional slots will also allow AirAsia to revive flights to Zamboanga, Dumaguete, General Santos City, and expand frequency in Cagayan De Oro which is also a gateway to Northern Mindanao. This, in turn, will give AirAsia the upper hand to continue to provide the best value airfares and best travel deals as we continue to democratize air travel for everyone,” Dailisan said.
Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista said unutilized slots as a result of the reduction of flights during the pandemic were given to other airlines that were willing to operate during that time.
However, he said, the DOTr would evaluate the availability of slots with the Manila International Airport Authority and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and “will give available slots to AirAsia.”
As of September, AirAsia Philippines flies 312 times weekly to 14 local destinations with an average load factor of 91 percent per flight.
