AirAsia hopes to set up regional office in RP

PETALING JAYA, Malaysia — AirAsia, one of the largest airlines in the world offering cheap airfare, hopes to set up its regional office in the Philippines within the year.

Dato’ Sri Dr. Tony Fernandes, chief executive officer of the AirAsia Group, said the Philippines has good tourist potential due to its natural resources and hospitable people.

“I was in Manila recently and I feel good. I believe Air-Asia must have a regional office in the Philippines,” said Fernandes told The STAR.

During his visit to Manila recently, Fernandes reportedly met with officials of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) led by Secretary Jose “Ping” de Jesus apparently to discuss the setting up of the AirAsia regional office in the Philippines and hopefully an expansion of its operations.

Asked about this, Fernandes declined to provide details on his meeting with DOTC officials.

Fernandes said AirAsia would like to establish an office in the Philippines, especially with the new government under President Aquino, who vowed during his presidential campaign that he would stop corruption.

“He (President Aquino) is fantastic... the Philippine people voted for a good government. I am really very excited to have an office in the Philippines, hopefully within the year,” he said.

With the success of Air-Asia, Fernandes said there should be many more low-cost airlines since Asia has a huge market.

From its humble beginnings of having just two aircraft and 200 staffers, Fernandes said AirAsia has grown exponentially into a global brand connecting 22 countries and 139 routes across Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, with China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, India, Europe, and Australia.

Raman Narayanan, Air-Asia communications officer, said they are hopeful to do business in the Philippines since President Aquino has announced his inclination for an “open skies” policy.

“AirAsia would help in bringing more tourists to the Philippines, then the local airlines would be the one to send these tourists to various tourist destinations,” said Narayanan.

He pointed out that all Asian countries have good potential, since each country is growing in terms of population and economy.

Narayanan said AirAsia would not infringe on the revenue of other airlines since the Asian region has a huge market.

With a philosophy of “Now Everyone Can Fly,” Naraya-nan said AirAsia has sparked a revolution in air travel as more and more people across the region are choosing it as their preferred choice of transport.

While other airlines are charging their guests huge surcharges, Fernandes said AirAsia was the first airline to abolish surcharges from all its international and domestic flights.