Thursday, February 9, 2012

News Update AirAsia Philippines Leasing 16 Aircraft

MANILA, Philippines - Newly licensed AirAsia Inc. (Philippines) will lease 14-16 Airbus 320 planes to service domestic and international routes within 1.5 to 4 hours flight from its Clark, Pampanga hub in the next half decade.

The airline on Wednesday received its commercial air carrier certificate (AOC) from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) in the latter's Manila office.

In March, last year, AirAsia Inc. registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to engage primarily in the business of air transportation in the Philippines and abroad for passenger and cargo.

AirAsia Inc. is a 60-40 joint venture between Filipino investors Antonio O. Cojuangco, Michael L. Romero and Marianne B. Hontiveros with Malaysia's AirAsia International Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of AirAsia Berhad.

The latter won the best low cost airline award for three consecutive years from Skytrax, the world's largest airline and airport review site.

"In the coming weeks, we will begin our domestic and international operations using two brand new Airbus A-320s flown in from the Airbus factory in Toulouse, France," AirAsia Inc. CEO Marianne Hontiveros announced.

The airline has fully complied with the new rigid process and requirements for the AOC meant to ensure safety conscientiousness in Philippine Aviation.

"We are committed to make air travel more fun, affordable and accessible to all Filipinos," she added.

The airline also aims to revitalize tourism and boost passenger traffic at its hub in the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Clark, Angeles, Pampanga.