Budget airline AirAsia in Manila reported a 64 percent increase in passenger traffic in the second quarter of the year on the back of strong demand for domestic air travel.
Air Asia Philippines said passengers carried in the April-to-June period reached 1.63 million, higher than only 994,527 passengers a year ago.
This developed even as load factor, or seat capacity actually filled during the period, stood two percentage points lower to 91 percent from 93 percent last year.
“Throughout the second quarter of 2023, the domestic performance was incredibly strong and international market traffic remained buoyant with favorable load factor,” Air Asia reported.
As consequence of the robust demand of the international market, the group recalibrated the capacity of its international routes to meet the strong market resurgence, it added.
Air Asia’s Tan Sri Anthony Francis Fernandes earlier pledged to invest $1 billion for the expansion of flight operations in the Philippines.
“Over the next few years, we’ll invest about one billion US dollars into the Philippines. We have (invested) around $300 million so far. We want to grow our aircraft from 23 to 50, including wide-body” jets, he added.
The Romero family led by Michael and Shiela Romero also earlier announced the sale of its 60 percent stake in AirAsia to AA Com Travel Philippines Inc. Capital A, formerly AirAsia Group Berhad, owns the remaining 40 percent.
AirAsia Philippines operates daily flights from Manila to Bacolod, Cebu, Cagayan, Davao, Iloilo, Kalibo, Caticlan (Boracay), Puerto Princesa, Tacloban, Tagbilaran and Zamboanga. Its other interisland destinations flying out of AirAsia’s Cebu hub include Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Caticlan, Puerto Princesa and Clark.
Its active international destinations include Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Bangkok, Singapore, Taipei, Osaka, Incheon, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Bali.
