Philippines AirAsia adds more flights, more aircraft, and new destinations in 2020

Aviation Updates Philippines – Low-cost carrier Philippines AirAsia will be increasing the number of flights to some of its existing domestic and international routes and will also be adding new aircraft and new destinations in 2020.

MORE FLIGHTS. Philippines AirAsia will be increasing frequencies to existing routes and will also be adding new aircraft and new destinations in 2020. Photo by Mehrad Watson - Planespotters.net

Earlier this month, the airline increased the frequency of its Clark-Iloilo-Clark service from thrice weekly to daily, while its Cebu-Kuala Lumpur-Cebu route, which was previously flown three times a week, is now operated with four weekly flights.

Starting March 29, the carrier will be increasing its Clark-Tacloban-Clark service from three times a week to four times a week, while its thrice-weekly Cebu-Puerto Princesa-Cebu route will be served daily.

"Our adjustments are well guided by data, and I am very optimistic about the tourism boost this will bring to our country in the summer months," Philippines AirAsia CEO Ricky Isla said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the airline is also set to add more destinations to its network this year with new services to Zamboanga City, General Santos City, and Dumaguete City, as well as the resumption of its flights to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.

According to a BusinessWorld report, the Zamboanga City government said that Philippines AirAsia "will open two flights" daily from Manila to Zamboanga City and vice-versa, beginning March 15. It added that the airline will also be launching flights to General Santos City and Dumaguete City, though the launch dates for these destinations has yet to be announced.

Last week, it was reported that the airline will resume its thrice-weekly Manila-Ho Chi Minh City-Manila service beginning March 29. The airline previously launched this route in November 2017 and was served until July 2019.

To cater to the growing demand for air travel, Philippines AirAsia vice chairman Sheila Romero said that the airline will be adding seven new aircraft this year to complement the existing 24 Airbus A320s in its fleet. The airline is also reportedly finalizing plans to purchase newer Airbus A321neo aircraft in order to cope with slot restrictions at certain airports.

Philippines AirAsia was founded in 2010 and currently operates more than 500 weekly domestic and international flights from its hubs in Manila, Cebu, Clark, and Kalibo.