MANILA -- Despite offering new routes this year as well as expanding services in Chinese destinations, AirAsia Philippines has no plans yet to offer long-haul flights, its chief executive said on Tuesday.
"We don't have long-haul flights in AirAsia Philippines, but we offer 'fly through' within the AirAsia Group. For instance, one can fly to Australia or India via our Manila-Kuala Lumpur leg," said Dexter Comendador, AirAsia Philippines' chief executive officer.
On Monday, the airlines firm unveiled AirAsia X, the first of its new generation long-haul fleet, the Airbus A330neo, at the Paris International Air Show.
AirAsia X claimed that it is the first airline in the Asia Pacific to operate the A330neo. AirAsia X would have this aircraft in Bangkok, to facilitate network expansions to Australia, Japan, and South Korea.
Comendador said if AirAsia X would offer a long-haul flight from Bangkok, then AirAsia Philippines customers may opt to fly through Bangkok, noting that there is no A330neo unit in the Philippines yet.
This type of aircraft would be good to fly to Australia, India, northwest China, Russia, Japan, among others, he said.
Earlier, Comendador said the AirAsia plans to open more routes to China and Japan this year.
Flights between Kalibo, Aklan and three Chinese destinations -- Macau, Kunming, and Chengdu-- were launched in the first quarter.
AirAsia Philippines is set to launch the Manila-Osaka route in July, and flights between Clark and Kaohsiung, and Cebu-Kaohsiung in August. (PNA)
