Low-cost carrier AirAsia Philippines yesterday said it will gradually reactive over 400 employees this December and will rehire employees who were laid off once demand steadily increases by the second quarter of 2022.
The airline said these 432 employees include pilots, cabin crew, ground staff and engineering who were previously placed under hibernation at the height of the coronavirus pandemic last year.
It added the gradual activation will initially cover 15 percent of the hibernated workforce, mostly pilots and cabin crew, to undergo recurrent training starting next month, while the remaining 85 percent will be progressively integrated back into line during the first quarter of 2022, subject to market demand.
The airline said the reintegration of these employees will enable it to meet the growing market demand and prepare its workforce to deliver the best service to guests, as air travel progresses with travel restrictions eased in all its destinations, allowing enhanced mobility for fully vaccinated individuals.
Ricky Isla, AirAsia Philippines chief executive officer, meanwhile said the rehiring of former staff who were let go during the onset of the pandemic might come earlier than expected.
“Projections based on current vaccination rates among Asean countries are speeding up. As soon as there is steady demand for air travel, and border restrictions are lifted in the international destinations where we fly, we can start the process of rehiring as early as April. We will definitely prioritize our former Allstars, and will also provide opportunities for new hires especially now that we are strengthening the offerings of the airasia Super App in the Philippines,” Isla said.
Last year, AirAsia retrenched over 600 employees. It currently has around 1,500 employees. It has yet to give details on the number of employees to be rehired next year.
AirAsia Philippines posted 167 percent growth in the number of passengers year-on- year and 5 percent increase quarter-on-quarter with load factor at 77 percent, attributed to active capacity management.
In the fourth quarter this year, the airline will double and triple its current weekly flight frequencies in the domestic market, such as Caticlan, Iloilo, Tacloban, Bacolod, Tagbilaran, Puerto Princesa, Kalibo and Cebu. It will also retain its strong presence in Cagayan De Oro, Davao, Zamboanga and General Santos.
AirAsia Philippines will likewise begin resuming its regional flights next month, particularly to Hong Kong and Singapore, to service overseas Filipino workers who will be returning to the Philippines for the holidays.
