AirAsia Philippines on Wednesday bared eyeing additional airport slots to service more flights to Visayas and Mindanao.
“Additional slots will allow AirAsia to flourish in Visayas and Mindanao especially since we also plan to grow our domestic market by 20 percent in 2024,” Steve Dailisan, AirAsia country head for communications and public affairs, said.
An airport slot is a permit permitting airlines to use its takeoff and landing facilities.
“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,” Dailisan said.
“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,” he added.
AirAsia Philippines’ statement came after Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri’s call to boost connectivity to Visayas and Mindanao through the provision of more slots for local carriers.
At the 2024 budget hearing of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and its attached agencies, Senator Zubiri said the unused slots should be given to airlines that operate at present so that flight frequencies expand for the benefit of Filipinos.
The Senate president in particular mentioned AirAsia Philippines which is expanding its fleet with 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,” he stressed.
Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista explained that unusd slots as a result of the reduction of flights during the pandemic were given to other airlines who were willing to operate at that time.
He said the DOTr will now evaluate the availability of slots with the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and “will give the available slots to AirAsia”.
AirAsia Philippines flies 312 times weekly to 14 local destinations with an average load factor of 91 percent per flight.
AirAsia Philippines is also planning on bringing in A321neo and A330 aircraft next year to service more guests, especially overseas Filipino workers (OFW).
