The Philippine unit of Southeast Asia’s largest low-cost carrier on Tuesday said it would mount flight to three domestic destinations from Clark next month.
Marianne Hontiveros, chief executive of AirAsia Philippines Inc. said that they are targeting to start domestic flights to Davao, Kalibo, Puerto Princesa from Clark in March.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines on Tuesday approved AirAsia’s license to operate as a commercial carrier that will allow it to fly passengers from its hub at the Diosdado Macapagal International Aiport in Clark, Pampanga.

She also said that the airline will also planning to fly to regional destinations once it gets the necessary approvals.

Hontiveros said AirAsia would use two brand new Airbus A-320s for its domestic and international operations.

“With the DMIA in Clark as our hub, we look forward to helping revitalize tourism and significantly increasing passenger traffic at DMIA. We want to open routes out of Clark because we believe it is underserved. Our aim is to give the lowest possible rate,” Hontiveros said.

AirAsia targets to capture some 857,000 passengers on full-year operations with one third coming from domestic flights and the remaining two-thirds from regional flights.

The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) had granted AirAsia air rights to fly to countries such as Malaysia, Cambodia, Taiwan, Guam, Korea, China and Japan but it needs approval from these countries before it can mount the said flights.

Hontiveros said that the airline currently has a fleet of two Airbus A320s and the company plans to add two more aircraft within the year. The company hopes to bring its total fleet to 14 to 16 aircraft in the next five years.

Air Asia holds a 40-percent equity in AirAsia Philippines, through AA International, while the remaining 60 percent will be held in equal partnership by Hontiveros., Michael Romero and Antonio Cojuangco.

Under the joint venture agreement, Air Asia will provide technical, operational and commercial support to AirAsia Philippines.

Besides the Philippines, Air Asia successfully launched low-cost carriers subsidiaries in Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

Air Asia operates a domestic and regional network, which include services within Malaysia and to China, Southeast Asia and the Asian subcontinent.