Philippines AirAsia

Low-cost airline of the Philippines

Philippines AirAsia

Philippines AirAsia Airbus A320 taxiing on Ninoy Aquino International Airport

| IATA | ICAO | Call sign

|
|

Z2  | APG  | COOL RED
Founded| 16 December 2010; 14 years ago (2010-12-16)
(as AirAsia Philippines)
Commenced operations|

* 28 March 2012; 13 years ago (2012-03-28)
(as AirAsia Philippines)
* 6 December 2015; 9 years ago (2015-12-06)
(as Philippines AirAsia)

AOC #| 2009003[1]
Operating bases| Ninoy Aquino International Airport
Frequent-flyer program| BIG Loyalty Programme[2]
Fleet size| 15
Destinations| 29
Parent company| AA Com Travel Philippines Inc.[3]
Headquarters| Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines
Key people| Capt. Suresh Bangah (President & General Manager)
Website| www.airasia.com

Philippines AirAsia, Inc. is a Philippine low-cost airline based at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay, Metro Manila.[4] The airline is the Philippine affiliate of the Malaysian AirAsia. The airline started as a joint venture among three Filipino investors and AirAsia Investments Ltd. (later AirAsia Aviation Limited), a subsidiary of AirAsia Berhad.

## History

[edit]

An Airbus A320-200 operated by Philippines AirAsia in Puregold livery, on final approach at Taoyuan International Airport

AirAsia Philippines was formally launched on 16 December 2010.[5] On 15 August 2011, AirAsia Philippines took delivery of its first brand-new Airbus A320 aircraft.[6] The airline planned to start operations by 2011[5] but was delayed due to the long duration of processing the new requirements instituted in 2008.[7]

On 7 February 2012, the airline received its air operator's certificate (AOC).[7] The airline commenced operations on 28 March by launching flights from its base at Clark International Airport to Kalibo and Davao City.[8] It partnered with Victory Liner, one of the largest provincial bus companies operating in the Philippines, to provide free shuttle service for inbound and outbound passengers of Clark International Airport.[9] Within that year, in addition to its first two destinations, AirAsia Philippines launched flights to Puerto Princesa, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taipei.[10]

On 11 March 2013, an agreement was made between AirAsia Philippines to swap shares with Philippine-based airline Zest Airways.[11] Zest Airways received a mix of $16 million cash and a 13% share in AirAsia Philippines, while AirAsia Philippines now owns 85% of Zest Airways, with 49% of its voting rights. The deal closed on 10 May 2013, and Zest Airways was rebranded AirAsia Zest. The agreement also gave AirAsia Philippines access to Ninoy Aquino International Airport, allowing further growth of its route network.[12] By October 2013, AirAsia Philippines closed its Clark base to reduce further losses, and moved its operations to NAIA, initially at Terminal 4.[13] It later moved its international flights to Terminal 3 by 2014.[14] After two years of operating under separate brands, the two airlines merged to a single AOC in September 2015, with the AirAsia Zest brand being retired in December.[15]

It continued its domestic and international expansion; in March 2017, the airline launched flights to Caticlan — the closest airport to Boracay,[16] and reopened its Clark base.[17] In October 2017, it began flying to Iloilo — a destination once served by AirAsia Zest,[18] and started flying to Ho Chi Minh City in November.[19] The following year, it opened a base in Cagayan de Oro.[20]

On 1 July 2019, Philippines AirAsia launched its first flights to Japan, starting with Osaka.[21] On 27 October, it started flying to Bacolod — another former AirAsia Zest destination — and was one of the highlights of that year's MassKara Festival.[22]

The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected Philippines AirAsia's business. Plans for Philippines AirAsia to debut in the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) within 2020 was deferred in March, with the airline management deciding to focus on expanding its domestic operations after a government ban on China and South Korea in response to the worsening health situation threatened 30% of the airlines' revenue.[23] It also retrenched 624 employees due to the pandemic.[24] Flights to General Santos and Zamboanga City — which were originally set to launch in March — began in October.[25]

As travel restrictions eased in 2022, Philippines AirAsia started to rebuild its network by adding more flights, launching flights to Dumaguete and Roxas City,[26] and resuming most international flights starting 27 May 2022.[27] In February 2023, it launched daily flights to Tokyo,[28] and resumed flights to Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Macau.[29] Amid a fleet shortage,[30] flights to General Santos ended in 2022, while flights to Dumaguete and Zamboanga ended in 2023.

On 1 July 2023, Philippines AirAsia transferred its domestic operations at Ninoy Aquino International Airport from the highly congested Terminal 4 to the larger Terminal 2. Although its international flights remained at Terminal 3,[31] it requested to the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) to transfer its international flights to Terminal 1 for operational efficiency. This was rejected by MIAA due to space limitations, given that flag carrier Philippine Airlines have predominantly occupied the terminal with no space for AirAsia to fit in.[30]

In 2024, Philippines AirAsia terminated all flights to mainland China (except Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau) due to weak demand amid geopolitical tensions.[32] On 18 October 2024, the airline suspended its inter-island flights out of Cebu, effectively closing its hub at Mactan–Cebu International Airport.[33] It attempted to launch flights to Nagoya in the same month, but were cancelled due to operational circumstances.[34] After nearly thirteen years, on 22 January 2025, Philippines AirAsia ended flights to Davao City due to competitive pricing; it plans to reassign its aircraft to its top-performing destinations instead, like Bohol, Boracay, Palawan, and Tacloban.[35]

In March 2025, Philippines AirAsia revisited its plans to debut in the PSE, while announcing its fleet expansion.[36]

## Corporate affairs

[edit]

Since 2023, Philippines AirAsia uses Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 as its domestic hub in Manila.

Philippines AirAsia is headquartered at the RedPoint office at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay, Metro Manila. RedPoint has been the airline's headquarters since October 2019; the airline was previously headquartered at the Salem Complex near NAIA Terminal 4.[37]

The airline is a joint venture between three Filipino businessmen and AirAsia. 60% of the airline is owned by Filipino investors Antonio O. Cojuangco, Jr., former owner of Associated Broadcasting Company and owner of Dream Satellite TV, Michael L. Romero, a real estate developer and port operator, and Marianne Hontiveros, a former music industry executive and TV host.[38] The remaining 40% is owned by AirAsia Investments Ltd. (later AirAsia Aviation Limited) of Malaysia.[5] The Public Service Act of the Philippines, prior to its amendment in 2022, only allowed a foreign direct investment of up to 40% in Philippine-registered airlines.[39]

In June 2019, Romero's F&S Holdings bought the shares owned by Alfredo Yao and Hontiveros, thus becoming the new majority shareholder in the company. Four months later, Romero acquired Cojuangco's shares, becoming the sole local owner (and parent company) of the airline.[3] In June 2023, F&S Holdings sold all of its shares to AA Com Travel Philippines for an undisclosed amount.[3]

## Destinations

[edit]

Main article: List of AirAsia Group destinations

As of July 2025[update], Philippines AirAsia flies (or has flown) to the following destinations:

Country  | City  | Airport  | Notes  | Refs

|
|
|
|

China | Chengdu | Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport | Terminated |
Guangzhou | Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport | Terminated | [40]
Hangzhou | Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport | Terminated |
Kunming | Kunming Changshui International Airport | Terminated |
Shanghai | Shanghai Pudong International Airport | Terminated | [40]
Shenzhen | Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport | Terminated | [40]
Hong Kong | Hong Kong | Hong Kong International Airport |  |
Indonesia | Denpasar | Ngurah Rai International Airport | Terminated |
Jakarta | Soekarno–Hatta International Airport | Terminated |
Japan | Nagoya | Chubu Centrair International Airport | Terminated | [34]
Osaka | Kansai International Airport |  | [41]
Tokyo | Narita International Airport |  | [42]
Macau | Macau | Macau International Airport |  | [29]
Malaysia | Kota Kinabalu | Kota Kinabalu International Airport |  |
Kuala Lumpur | Kuala Lumpur International Airport | Terminated | [43]
Philippines (Central Visayas) | Cebu | Mactan–Cebu International Airport |  | [44]
Dumaguete | Sibulan Airport | Terminated | [26]
Tagbilaran | Bohol–Panglao International Airport |  |
Philippines (Central Luzon) | Clark | Clark International Airport |  |
Philippines (Davao Region) | Davao | Francisco Bangoy International Airport | Terminated | [35]
Philippines (Eastern Visayas) | Tacloban | Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport |  |
Philippines (Mimaropa) | Puerto Princesa | Puerto Princesa International Airport |  |
Philippines (National Capital Region) | Manila | Ninoy Aquino International Airport | Base |
Philippines (Northern Mindanao) | Cagayan de Oro | Laguindingan Airport |  |
Philippines (Soccsksargen) | General Santos | General Santos International Airport | Terminated | [45]
Philippines (Western Visayas) | Bacolod | Bacolod–Silay Airport |  |
Caticlan | Godofredo P. Ramos Airport |  |
Iloilo | Iloilo International Airport |  |
Kalibo | Kalibo International Airport |  |
Roxas | Roxas Airport |  | [26]
Philippines (Zamboanga Peninsula) | Zamboanga | Zamboanga International Airport | Terminated | [45]
Singapore | Singapore | Changi Airport | Terminated |
South Korea | Busan | Gimhae International Airport | Terminated |
Seoul | Incheon International Airport |  |
Taiwan | Kaohsiung | Kaohsiung International Airport |  | [46]
Taipei | Taoyuan International Airport |  |
Thailand | Bangkok | Don Mueang International Airport |  |
Vietnam | Ho Chi Minh City | Tan Son Nhat International Airport | Terminated | [47]

## Fleet

[edit]

An Airbus A320-200 at Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport

As of July 2025[update], Philippines AirAsia operates the following aircraft:[48]

Philippines AirAsia fleet  Aircraft  | In service  | Orders  | Passengers  | Notes

|
|
|
|

Airbus A320-200 | 15  | —  | 180  | 10 aircraft stored.[48]
Airbus A321neo | —  | 4  | 236  | Deliveries to commence in 2025.[36]
Total  | 15  | 4  |

## Sports teams

[edit]

* AirAsia Philippine Patriots (ASEAN Basketball League, 2010–2012)
* AirAsia Flying Spikers (Philippine Super Liga, 2014)

## See also

[edit]

* List of airlines of the Philippines
* List of airports in the Philippines
* List of companies of the Philippines
* List of low-cost airlines
* Transportation in the Philippines

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "ACTIVE/CURRENT AOC HOLDERS" (PDF). Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines. 30 May 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
2. ^ "Join BIG! AirAsia BIG Loyalty Programme". Archived from the original on 26 May 2008.
3. ^ a b c Mercurio, Richmond (6 June 2023). "Romero family exits airline business". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
4. ^ "AirAsia launches Philippine joint venture | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on 17 December 2010. Retrieved 2 June 2011.
5. ^ a b c Rimando, Lala (16 December 2010). "Asia's largest budget airline, Filipino partners take on local industry". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
6. ^ Galang, Bernard (16 August 2011). "AirAsia first comm'l plane arrives at DMIA from France". People's Journal. Archived from the original on 16 April 2013.
7. ^ a b "New kid on the block: AirAsia Philippines flying soon". Rappler. 7 February 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
8. ^ Suarez, K. D. (28 March 2012). "Philippines' AirAsia finally takes off". Rappler. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
9. ^ Navales, Reynaldo G (8 April 2012). "Victory Liner, AirAsia provide free shuttle for Clark passengers". Sun.Star Pampanga. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
10. ^ Clark International Airport Corporation (n.d.). Annual Report 2012 (PDF) (Report). p. 4. Retrieved 21 November 2022 – via Clark International Airport Corporation.
11. ^ Dumlao, Doris C. (11 March 2013). "AirAsia to acquire 40% of Zest Air". Inquirer Business. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
12. ^ "AirAsia now controls Zest Air". ABS-CBN News. 24 May 2013. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
13. ^ Rivera, Danessa O. (13 September 2013). "Airasia Philippines moves operations hub to NAIA-4". GMA News. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
14. ^ Agcaoili, Lawrence (11 September 2014). "AirAsia transfers 3 int'l flights to NAIA 3". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
15. ^ Simeon, Louise Maureen (27 September 2015). "Air Asia Zest brand to be phased out". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
16. ^ Buccat, Rhys (15 March 2017). "AirAsia launches its inaugural flights to Caticlan". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
17. ^ Dela Paz, Chrisee (28 March 2017). "From 2 jets to 70: AirAsia returns to its Clark roots". Rappler. Archived from the original on 5 November 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
18. ^ "AirAsia celebrates Iloilo-Manila inaugural flight". Iloilo Today. 1 October 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
19. ^ "AirAsia PH flies to Vietnam". Inquirer Business. 21 September 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
20. ^ Salcedo, Dirk Andrei (11 August 2018). "Philippines AirAsia to launch Cagayan de Oro hub". Aviation Updates Philippines.
21. ^ Arayata, Ma. Cristina (30 March 2019). "AirAsia Philippines to launch Manila-Osaka route on July 1". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
22. ^ Guadalquiver, Nanette (28 October 2019). "AirAsia launches Manila-Bacolod flights". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
23. ^ Camus, Miguel (2 March 2020). "COVID-19 crisis puts AirAsia IPO plan on hold". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
24. ^ Arayata, Ma. Cristina (25 November 2021). "AirAsia PH to welcome back over 400 hibernating staff". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
25. ^ Cordero, Ted (28 October 2020). "AirAsia launches flights to Zamboanga, General Santos". GMA News. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
26. ^ a b c Piad, Tyrone Jasper (19 March 2022). "AirAsia adds more domestic flights as demand surges". Inquirer.net. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
27. ^ "AirAsia relaunches overseas routes with Kinabalu flight". PortCalls Asia. 31 May 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
28. ^ "AirAsia launches Manila-Tokyo flights". PortCalls Asia. 2 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
29. ^ a b "AirAsia Philippines set to resume flights to China". BusinessWorld. 6 February 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
30. ^ a b Tabile, Justine Irish D. (3 July 2023). "MIAA studies moving foreign flights of AirAsia to Terminal 1". BusinessWorld. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
31. ^ "Domestic flights back at NAIA Terminal 2". CNN Philippines. 2 July 2023. Archived from the original on 5 July 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
32. ^ Cabuenas, Jon Viktor D. (9 September 2024). "AirAsia Philippines to halt Manila-China flights in Q4 2024". GMA Integrated News. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
33. ^ "Lance Gokongwei to the rescue! Cebu Pacific offers P1,000 tickets to stranded AirAsia travelers after penny-pinching Tony Fernandes cancels routes". Bilyonaryo. 18 October 2024. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
34. ^ a b "Nagoyo! Tony Fernandes scraps new Philippine-Japan route shortly before anyone could fly after teasing P888 AirAsia fare just weeks ago". Bilyonaryo. 20 October 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
35. ^ a b Rosales, Elijah Felice (30 January 2025). "AirAsia suspends Manila-Davao flights". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
36. ^ a b Salcedo, Dirk Andrei (12 March 2025). "AirAsia plans major PH expansion with fleet growth and potential stock listing". Aviation Updates Philippines. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
37. ^ "AirAsia unveils sprawling RedPoint office in the Philippines". AirAsia Newsroom. 9 October 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
38. ^ "AirAsia insider: Marianne Hontiveros". Macroaxis. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
39. ^ Atienza, Kyle Aristophere T. (22 March 2022). "Duterte signs law allowing full foreign ownership in key sectors". BusinessWorld. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
40. ^ a b c "Philippines AirAsia NW24 International Service Changes". Aeroroutes. 24 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
41. ^ "Philippines AirAsia Resumes Osaka Service in Dec 2022". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
42. ^ "PHILIPPINES AIRASIA SCHEDULES TOKYO SERVICE FROM FEB 2023". AeroRoutes. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
43. ^ "Philippines AirAsia NW24 Service Changes – 10NOV24". Aeroroutes. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
44. ^ Padronia, Earl Kim; Lorenciana, Carlo (16 August 2022). "AirAsia reopens Cebu hub, eyes more flights from MCIA". SunStar. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
45. ^ a b Balinbin, Arjay L. (22 January 2020). "AirAsia set to fly to Zamboanga, General Santos and Dumaguete". BusinessWorld.
46. ^ Vibal, Leana (9 December 2022). "This Low-Cost Airline Is Flying Direct to Kaohsiung in 2023". SPOT.ph. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
47. ^ Liu, Jim (23 January 2020). "Philippines AirAsia resumes Manila – Ho Chi Minh City service from late-March 2020". routesonline.com.
48. ^ a b "AirAsia's Capital A Eyes 50 New Aircraft For Philippines | Aviation Week Network". aviationweek.com. Retrieved 3 August 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Philippines AirAsia at Wikimedia Commons

* v
* t
* e

AirAsia Group

* Group destinations
* Tony Fernandes (CEO)
* Kamarudin Meranun (Chairman)

Affiliates
(year began operating
with AirAsia Group)|

* Thai AirAsia (2004)
* Indonesia AirAsia (2005)
* AirAsia X (2007)
* Philippines AirAsia (2012)
* Thai AirAsia X (2014)
* AirAsia Cambodia (2024)

Defunct affiliates
(year of operating
with AirAsia Group)|

* FlyAsianXpress (2006–07)
* AirAsia Japan (2012–2013/2017–2020)
* AirAsia Zest (2013–2015)
* AirAsia India (2014–2022)
* Indonesia AirAsia X (2014–2019)

Sports teams|

* Queens Park Rangers (2011–present) (English football)
* Petaling Jaya Rangers (2011–present) (Malaysian football)
* Team Lotus/Caterham F1 Team (2010–2014 defunct) (motorsport)
* Caterham Racing GP2 (2011–2014 defunct; sold to Status Grand Prix) (motorsport)
* Ongetta 125cc Team (2010) (motorsport)
* Ajo Motorsport 125cc-Moto3 (2011–2013) (motorsport)
* Caterham Moto2 (2014 defunct; rebranded as SIC Racing Team in 2015 and switch to Moto3) (motorsport)

Accidents|

* Indonesia AirAsia Flight 8501 (December 2014; 162 fatalities)

See also
Tune Group (parent company)

* Italics indicates defunct companies

* v
* t
* e

Airlines of the Philippines

Mainline|

| Flag carrier|

* Philippine Airlines

|

Low-cost|

* Cebu Pacific
* Philippines AirAsia

Regional|

* AirSWIFT
* Air Juan
* Bangsamoro Airways
* Cebgo
* PAL Express
* Royal Air Philippines
* Sky Pasada
* SkyJet

Charter|

* Aero Majestic Airways
* Air Link International Airways
* Air Republiq
* Pacificair
* South Phoenix Airlines
* Subic Seaplane
* Sunlight Air

Cargo|

* 2GO
* XplorAsia Airways

Defunct|

* Aboitiz Air
* Aerolift Philippines
* AirAsia Zest
* Air Manila
* Air Philippines
* Aviatour Air
* Corporate Air
* Fil-Asian Airways
* Filipinas Orient Airways
* Grand Air
* INAEC
* Laoag International Airlines
* Lionair
* Mid-Sea Express
* Mosphil Aero
* Mindanao Express
* Pacific East Asia Cargo Airlines
* Pacific Pearl Airways
* Pan Pacific Airlines
* Spirit of Manila Airlines
* TransGlobal Airways

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