MANILA, Philippines — Tycoon Tony Fernandes, the co-founder of low-cost carrier AirAsia, lauded the Philippines’ approach toward air travel, urging other countries in the region to follow suit.
Fernandes welcomed the Philippine government’s recent decision to open-up its international border with more relaxed travel and quarantine protocols for fully vaccinated returning Filipinos and foreign travelers, which also coincides with the increase in Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s arrival cap to 5,000.
“We commend the Philippines’ sustainable approach toward travel,” said Fernandes, chief executive officer of Capital A, formerly known as AirAsia Group Bhd.
“We can only hope that more countries in the ASEAN follow suit in strategically considering the upsides of relaxed border restrictions to their economic recovery. We at AirAsia will continue to support such measures while also consistently being a champion of safe travel,” he said.
The travel and lifestyle brand, which houses the world’s best low-cost airline, is advocating for more relaxed travel restrictions to spur interzonal and cross-country mobility.
The group is confident that eased border restrictions can stimulate the necessary economic activity to prompt the recovery of domestic and international tourism.
It believes that countries have vastly improved their pandemic responses and risk mitigation strategies two years into the pandemic.
“Over the past two years, we have learned to deal with COVID with masks, social distancing, and vaccines. But a key lesson that hasn’t sunk in is the futility of long-term travel restrictions,” Fernandes said.
Fernandes said a better and a more sustainable approach would be to promote cost-effective policies, such as the massive and speedy inoculation of the greater population.
“We should not ban things just to be seen as decisive. Measures should always aim to be proportionate and minimally disruptive,” he said.
In the country, nine of Air-Asia Philippines’ domestic destinations no longer require negative RT-PCR tests for fully vaccinated travelers.
These are Cebu, Clark, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos City, Davao, Tagbilaran, Kalibo, Caticlan and Tacloban.
AirAsia Philippines said unvaccinated minors (17 and below) are also now being accepted in most leisure destinations subject to the guidelines set by the respective local government units.
AirAsia Group Bhd, which operates a network of low-cost carriers including AirAsia Philippines, late last month changed its corporate name to Capital A to reflect its move to become more than just an airline.
While Capital A is the new group holding company name, the AirAsia brand name for its airlines remains.