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The AirAsia Aviation Group said it is adding four units from jet manufacturer Airbus and 10 from lessors.
STAR / File
MANILA, Philippines — One of the leading low-cost carriers in Asia-Pacific is boosting its fleet with 14 new aircraft this year to meet soaring travel demand, and this is expected to benefit the Philippines given the growing reach of its local subsidiary.
The AirAsia Aviation Group said it is adding four units from jet manufacturer Airbus and 10 from lessors.
Based on a forecast from the International Air Transport Association, passenger volume in Asia-Pacific would grow by eight percent in 2025, the fastest among any region.
As such, AirAsia CEO Bo Lingam said the airline is expanding its fleet to ensure it can compete with other carriers in serving the travel boom. AirAsia expects to raise its passenger volume by 11 percent to 70 million this year on the strength of its domestic and international coverage.
Moreover, Lingam said the future is secured for AirAsia, as its pockets are ready to fund its next 56 aircraft. Lingam is confident that AirAsia would be able to introduce more frequency and land in new routes in the long term.
“This gives us an unmatched runway for expansion, allowing us to scale with absolute certainty, while delivering the most affordable and reliable travel experience,” Lingam said.
In the Philippines, AirAsia has set a target of flying 7.5 million passengers in 2025 on optimism that Filipinos would keep on booking local and foreign trips for business and leisure.
AirAsia Philippines maintains a reputable presence in the most popular tourist destinations in the country such as Caticlan (Boracay) and Puerto Princesa.
Further, AirAsia Philippines sees rising demand in non-leisure routes like Bacolod and Tacloban. Internationally, the carrier most renowned for its budget fares, is ferrying more travelers to Hong Kong, Incheon, Macau and Tokyo.
