AirAsia Philippines will reactivate its entire fleet by the third quarter of 2024 with the reopening of more domestic and international flights, its top executive said Wednesday.
“We want to go back to 2019 levels by the third quarter of the year,” AirAsia Philippines chief executive Ricky Isla told reporters.
AirAsia Philippines now operates 16 aircraft, down from 24 aircraft during pre-pandemic.
“Hopefully by the end of the year, we have 24 to 25 aircraft operating,” Isla said.
Isla said the company would reopen more domestic and international flights towards the end of the year.
“We are going to open Dumaguete towards the fourth quarter, and Zamboanga is a candidate for reopening,” he said.
Isla said that for international routes, the airline would add flights to Taipei, Japan, Macau and Hong Kong.
“By first quarter of next year, we are also looking at Australia,” Isla said.
AirAsia Philippines said it was looking to fly more foreign guests from other ASEAN countries, especially with the scheduled merger of AirAsia X and AirAsia Philippines.
Seen to materialize in the months to come, the move is expected to consolidate all medium and long-haul flights which could create more opportunities for foreign travelers to explore the country.
AirAsia Philippines flies to 13 domestic destinations and 13 international destinations.