Iloilo’s Mayor Jed Mabilog has indicated that AirAsia Philippines is planning to launch direct flights from Iloilo to China by September 2016. The planned flights will carry passengers between Iloilo and Xiamen.
According to Mabilog, 80 percent of Iloilo’s Chinese-Filipino population come from Xiamen. “AirAsia’s commitment is that starting next year by September 2016, they are going to launch the first Iloilo direct flights to Xiamen, China,” said Mabilog.
However, Mabilog added that AirAsia is interested in building the airport’s international presence further with the intention of opening direct flights from Iloilo to Seoul Incheon, South Korea by the last quarter of 2016.
Iloilo International Airport currently offers direct flights to two international destinations: Hong Kong and Singapore. Both flights are operated by Cebu Pacific. Cebu Pacific’s flights to Hong Kong operate from Iloilo three times weekly, while the Singapore flights operate twice weekly.
Meanwhile, AirAsia is set to increase its flights from Manila to Kuala Lumpur to accommodate the rising number of travellers. The budget carrier, which was recently named the World’s Best Low-Cost Airline for the seventh consecutive year, will be adding a third daily flight between the Philippine and Malaysian capital beginning on July 12. It is believed that the third daily flight will be operated by AirAsia Malaysia.
Tony Fernandes, AirAsia Group CEO indicated earlier this year that AirAsia Philippines will pursue an initial public offering to raise funds to finance the carrier’s expansion. “We can confirm today that AirAsia Indonesia and AirAsia Philippines will hold an Initial Public Offering subject to respective board approvals,” said Fernandes. “Business in both Philippines and Indonesia is doing real well. Great support from both governments.”