Air Asia Philippines Re-Aligns Operations, Aircraft Headed to Manila

In an effort to re-align its operations and optimize its network, Air Asia Philippines has decided to scale back flights on certain routes beginning on June 15.

Copyright Photo: Dave Leung/Planespotters.net

The Philippine division of Asia's largest low-cost carrier, Malaysia-based Air Asia, said in a press release that flights between Clark and Kuala Lumpur would be reduced from 10 weekly flights down to 3 with all flights operated by Air Asia Malaysia. Flights between Clark and Taipei will also be reduced from daily to 4 times per week. Flights from Clark to Hong Kong would reduce to 7 weekly from 10 while service to Singapore would be reduced to 3 weekly flights from 7.

Air Asia Philippines said that any passengers impacted by the changes may choose to receive a full refund of their booking or to accept an airline credit which can be used towards a different flight.  Meanwhile, Air Asia Philippines will be part of the opening celebrations at Laguindingan Airport with the introduction of three new daily flights between Manila and Cagayan de Oro. Each flight will be operated by Zest Air using Airbus A320 aircraft. 

The operational alignment is to enable Air Asia Philippines to transfer one aircraft to Manila to be operated by Zest Air in order to supplement operations and support continued expansion. The aircraft will be utilized on newly announced flights to Ho Chi Minh, Macau, and Cagayan de Oro. It will also supplement existing aircraft in the Zest Air fleet for use in maintaining flight operations to Cebu, Bacolod, Davao, and Kuala Lumpur. Zest Air requires more aircraft to continue its expansion and maintain its current network. 

Air Asia Philippines indicated that all aircraft in the Zest Air fleet will eventually be painted in Air Asia colours beginning with aircraft based at Clark Airport.