AirAsia Philippines increases flight frequencies starting 2022

Low-cost carrier AirAsia Philippines said Friday it is increasing its flight frequencies and reopening key hubs in anticipation of strong demand as travelers fly back home after the holiday break.

In a statement, AirAsia Philippines said starting January 1, 2022, it is increasing flight frequencies to Caticlan to 34 times weekly, Kalibo to eight times weekly, Iloilo to 10 times weekly, Tacloban to 28 times weekly, Tagbilaran to 11 times weekly, Puerto Princesa once daily, Bacolod to 11x weekly, and Davao twice daily.

International flights meanwhile include to/from Singapore every Saturday, Hong Kong every other Sunday of the month, and Kuala Lumpur five times weekly—which is operated by AirAsia Malaysia (flight code AK).

The airline also announces the reopening of its Clark International Airport hub with the thrice a week Clark-Caticlan flight which will commence on January 22, 2022.

“A lot of our guests are still taking last-minute travel opportunities after being  sidelined by the recent typhoon. We expect an uptake in flights as people return   to their homes following their holiday trips.  For this reason, we are adding flights to some key destinations to address  increasing demand,” said AirAsia Philippines spokesperson Steve Dailisan.

The additional flight frequency for January 2022 equates to almost 41% of pre-pandemic levels, according to the airline.

Meanwhile, average load factor during the holiday period increased to a healthy high of 91% to 95%, it added.

AirAsia reminded its guests to be at the airport at least three to four hours before their scheduled flight and prepare their travel requirements in advance to allow for the smooth processing of check-in procedures.

“We also request our guests to strictly wear their face masks and follow  our ground and flight crew instructions if they  wish to be reminded of our safety protocols.  We are doing this to ensure that our guests continue to experience the highest standards of hygiene and safety   on all of our flights,” Dailisan added.

The low-cost airline said it implements stringent multi-layered safety protocols and measures.

It said that all its Airbus A320 aircraft are equipped with High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters, which kill up to 99.9% of viruses including COVID-19.

“Additionally, the entire AirAsia ground and flying crew are equipped with the necessary safety and protection gear.  A deep and thorough cleaning and sanitation is also undertaken after each flight,” it said.—AOL, GMA News