AIRASIA Philippines may end the year with about eight million passengers flown, up by 21% from last year, the low-cost carrier said.
鈥淭owards the yearend, we鈥檙e looking at ending 2024 with around eight million passengers flown,鈥 AirAsia Philippines Communications and Public Affairs Head Steve F. Dailisan said on the sidelines of the Management Association of the Philippines鈥 22nd International CEO Conference in Taguig City last week.
鈥淭hat is higher than our 6.6 million passengers flown last year,鈥 he added.
For the first half of the year, Air-Asia Philippines has flown six million passengers, Mr. Dailisan said.
The airline anticipates an increase in passenger volume as the holiday season approaches.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be very busy. As December approaches, you expect high load factor, a lot of people traveling,鈥 Mr. Dailisan said.
AirAsia Philippines President and Chief Executive Officer Ricardo P. Isla said in a separate interview that the airline is not on track to hit the target of returning its fleet to pre-pandemic levels this year.
He said that AirAsia Philippines will end the year at 18 aircraft. It currently has 16 operational planes.
Mr. Dailisan said that supply issues and realignment of priorities have affected the airline鈥檚 recovery target.
鈥淭here have been challenges along the way such as supply issues, and then the recovery of the entire fleet of AirAsia. We had to realign because we opened AirAsia Cambodia,鈥 he said.
AirAsia Cambodia started operations in May as part of expanding the airline鈥檚 market presence.
Meanwhile, Mr. Isla said that Air-Asia Philippines is looking to add more routes next year as it awaits more aircraft.
鈥淲e want to reopen General Santos, Zamboanga, and Dumaguete. We鈥檙e looking towards the second half of next year. That鈥檚 in our planning already,鈥 he said.
鈥淲e want to get more aircraft so that when we fly there, we will not only fly three times a week. We want to fly almost every day and in good schedules,鈥 he added. 鈥 Revin Mikhael D. Ochave
