Tycoon Lucio Co’s Puregold Price Club Inc. has signed a branding and marketing deal with the Philippine unit of Southeast Asia’s largest budget carrier to further expand its market reach.
In partnership with AirAsia, Puregold unveiled its first two plane liveries featuring its official name and logo prominently displayed on both sides of the body of an Airbus A320 aircraft.
Puregold president Vincent Co said the partnership was a perfect opportunity for the company to expand its brand reach.
“Our partnership with AirAsia is anchored on a shared commitment to deliver value and the best quality service,” Co said.
Puregold ended last year with a total 328 stores nationwide. These included 277 Puregold stores, 12 S&R shopping warehouse, 23 S&R New York Style fast-food outlets, nine NE Bodega Supermarket and eight Budgetlane Supermarkets.
“We are honored to be carrying a homegrown retail brand on the ground and in the skies, extending as far as the whole of Asean region to China, Korea and international the AirAsia Group’s massive network of over 120 destinations,” Philippines AirAsia chief executive Dexter Comendador said.
AirAsia operates a fleet of 17 aircraft with domestic and international flights out of hubs in Manila, Cebu and Kaliningrad.
The airline flies to and from Manila, Davao, Cebu, Kalibo, Caticlan, Tacloban, Tagbilaran, Puerto Princesa, and Clark with international flights to/from Shanghai, Taipei, Incheon, Hong Kong, Macau, Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu and Singapore.
Philippines Air Asia recorded a net loss of P3.05 billion last year, down 1.3 percent from a P3.09-billion net loss in 2015.
The airline’s revenue reached P10.81 billion last year, up 21 percent from P8.93 billion in 2015.
Passengers carried by PAA reached 3.99 million last year from P3.59 million in 2015.
Malaysia’s Air Asia, through AA International, owns 40 percent of Philippines’ Air Asia Inc., while Filipinos Marianne Hontiveros, Michael Romero, Antonio Cojuangco and Alfredo Yao hold the balance of 60 percent.
