AirAsia returns 'stronger'
Aviation Updates Philippines – AirAsia Malaysia, last week, resumed partial operations on its domestic
flights while adhering to stringent health measures as mandated by
authorities. It will be followed by Thailand (May 1), Indonesia (May 7), and
the Philippines (May 16), subject to approval from the authorities.
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STRONGER. AirAsia Allstars posing in-front of a camera as they prepare an Airbus A321neo aircraft for its first flight after the COVID-19 suspensions. Photo from AirAsia, handout |
From Kuala Lumpur, AirAsia now flies to Kota Kinabalu, Tawau, Kuching, Miri, Sandakan, Kota Bharu, and Penang. On the other hand, the low-cost airline also resumed flights on the following routes: Kota Kinabalu-Sandakan, Kota Kinabalu-Tawau, Kuching-Miri, and Bintulu-Kuching. Flights between Kuala Lumpur and Sibu will resume on May 17, 2020.
The resumption of operations for the Malaysian unit is a welcome development
for the aviation industry as airlines continue to adapt to the changes
brought by the pandemic. Gradually, AirAsia Malaysia plans to resume flights
to select international destinations as well in the next few weeks.
"Flexibility remains the key to our business model. Our strong foundation
coupled with robust relationships with suppliers and partners [has] enabled
us to return to service stronger amid these unprecedented challenging
times," AirAsia Group Executive Chairman Datuk Kamarudin Meranun said.
On the airline's fleet network, Kamarudin remarked: "We do not intend to
take any new aircraft deliveries this year with the target to end 2020 with
242 aircraft, a net reduction of 1 aircraft from last year. We are relooking
at our [order book] with Airbus." Airbus recently planned to sell six
supposedly AirAsia-bound Airbus A320neo family aircraft not taken up.
"We have also restructured a major portion of the fuel hedges with our
supportive counterparties and are still in [the] process of restructuring
the remaining exposure. This will help deal with the excess of hedged volume
against expected fuel consumption post-COVID-19 and reduce the hedging
losses if fuel price remains at today’s prices. Further measures in managing
and containing cost include both the management and senior employees of
AirAsia Group volunteering a salary sacrifice, [renegotiating] contracts,
and deferring all non-essential expenditures," he added.
A week ago, AirAsia released guidelines for its flights while the COVID-19
pandemic persists. According to the budget carrier, it will now require all
passengers to wear face masks on all flights, at the same time, practice
physical distancing at all times. These are only some of the measures
AirAsia undertook to ensure the safety of passengers.
“AirAsia works actively with all relevant regulators, local governments,
civil aviation, and health authorities, and adheres to guidance from the
World Health Organisation (WHO) and International Civil Aviation
Organisation (ICAO) to ensure the highest standards of compliance and
conformance are in place for every single flight we operate in our network.
We will require guests to wear a mask and practice universally recommended
protective precautionary measures including social distancing and observing
high personal hygiene. All our aircraft, which are fitted with
hospital-standard High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters, will also
be sent for a thorough disinfection every night stop," Kamarudin said.
“Despite the unprecedented environment we are currently in, we are
continuing to build on our strengths and especially our brand so as to
emerge stronger when normalcy returns. We hope to continue to sustain the
1.3 million jobs and counting in the sector in the region, directly and
indirectly, and double our economic contribution to ASEAN’s GDP from US$15.3
billion in 2018 to US$35 billion in 2030.”
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