The Philippine unit of Southeast Asia’s largest budget carrier plans to expand its operations to India.
Philippines Air Asia Inc. filed with the Civil Aeronautics Board an application for designation as official Philippine carrier and for the grant of seven weekly flights to New Delhi, India.
PAA’s entitlements request was in accordance to the existing air services agreement between the governments of the Philippines and India.
At present, there are no Philippine carriers flying between Manila and New Delhi.
Philippine Airline’s flights to New Delhi were stopped in June 2013 amid low demand from local travelers.
PAA currently has 13 operating aircraft servicing domestic destinations such as Kalibo (Boracay), Puerto Princesa (Palawan), Tagbilaran (Bohol), Cebu and Tacloban. They also fly to China, Korea, Macau, Taipei and Hong Kong.
The budget airline earlier reported a net loss of P1.2 billion in July to September, down by 12 percent from the P1.4-billion loss it reported a year ago.
Revenues increased 24 percent to P2.57 billion in the third quarter from P2.07 billion in the same period last year.
Passengers carried by AirAsia Philippines increased 8 percent to 976,765 from last year’s 901,957, while load factor went down by 1 percentage point to 83 percent from 84 percent.
Malaysia’s Air Asia, through AA International, owns 40 percent of Philippines’ Air Asia Inc., while Filipinos Marriane Hontiveros, Michael Romero, Antonio Cojuangco and Alfredo Yao hold the balance of 60 percent.
