AirAsia expands Mindanao network

MANILA, Philippines — Low-cost carrier AirAsia has launched its first route to Cagayan De Oro as it continues to expand its domestic network with the addition of new flights in Mindanao.

AirAsia flew on Sunday its maiden flights from Laguindingan International Airport, the main airport that serves the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, as well as the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte and Bukidnon, to Manila, Cebu and Clark.

“AirAsia’s multiple flights today herald a bigger, brighter and better opportunities for travel, business and tourism in Mindanao. We are here to make air travel more affordable, convenient and reliable, and we are incredibly excited to paint Mindanao skies red,” AirAsia Philippines chief executive officer Dexter Comendador said.

To mark its first flight in Cagayan de Oro and its expansion in Mindanao, the airline launched its newest routes using its brand new Airbus A320 fitted with wing-tip devices or “sharklets.”

The sharklets, the airline said, help reduce fuel burn and emissions by improving the plane’s aerodynamics.

AirAsia has a current fleet of 21 Airbus A320s, from only two aircraft in 2012 when the airline began its commercial operation in Clark, Pampanga.

The company also commenced yesterday flights from Cagayan de Oro to Iloilo, with flights every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday or three times weekly.

AirAsia’s Cagayan de Oro-Manila route operates twice daily, while Cagayan de Oro-Cebu route has flights daily, and  Cagayan de Oro-Clark operates four times weekly.

AirAsia Philippines is a joint venture between Filipino investors Antonio Cojuangco, former Ambassador Alfredo Yao, Michael Romero, Marianne Hontiveros, and Malaysia’s AirAsia Group Berhad.

The AirAsia Group is the leading and largest low-cost carrier in Asia, servicing the most extensive network of over 135 destinations across all ASEAN countries, Asia, India, Australia, China, Middle East and Hawaii in US.