AirAsia Philippines projects strong recovery for Q3 2023

An AirAsia Philippines aircraft parked at the terminal.
LMP 2001, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Len Varley - Assistant Editor 4 Min Read
4 Min Read

Major low-cost carrier AirAsia Philippines is projecting a strong revival in the third quarter of 2023, amid the continuing desire for overseas travel.

 The airlines resurgence will be fuelled by the launch of new international routes and a notable boost in its flight schedules, as it continues a steady march towards pre-pandemic levels.

“Poised to sustain recovery”


AirAsia Philippines Communications and Public Affairs Country Head Steve Dailisan said “AirAsia Philippines is poised to sustain its recovery towards Q3 and the rest of 2023.”

“We are witnessing a return to our pre-pandemic levels, and we intend to capitalize on this by significantly increasing our flights to both new and established destinations.”

“Simultaneously, we remain committed to upholding the highest safety standards and offering the most competitive fares in today’s market.”

Two AirAsia Philippines aircraft parked under a sunny blue sky.
Photo Credit: AirAsia Philippines

Q3 recovery highlights


Key highlights of AirAsia Philippines’ anticipated recovery in Q3 2023 include:

Introduction of new international flights

AirAsia Philippines is preparing the launch of several new international routes, enabling travellers to explore exciting destinations including Busan, Fukuoka, Narita, Shenzhen, and Shanghai.

The airline is also mounting fly-thru flights to the Maldives via Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for travels from 6 June to 14 December 2023. 

Development of Cebu hub

The World’s Best Low-Cost Airline is also focusing on strongly building Cebu as an alternative hub for foreign travelers, especially those from Japan and South Korea.

Domestically, the bolstering of the Cebu hub will also come from local travelers who regularly journey from Mactan-Cebu International Airport to various AirAsia Destinations in Visayas and Mindanao.

Exciting destinations Cebuanos should watch out for include Narita, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Fukuoka, and Shanghai. 

Increased flight frequency by mid-Q3

AirAsia Philippines plans to significantly increase flight frequencies on existing domestic and international routes, especially with the foreseen return to service of some aircraft.

This improvement will further allow passengers greater flexibility in planning their trips and ensure more convenient connections.

By expanding its international network and increasing flight frequency, AirAsia Philippines aims to reinvigorate the travel industry, facilitate seamless travel experiences, and contribute to the revival of tourism and economic growth.

This weekend, travelers from Cebu and other nearby Central Visayas towns will get a chance to experience AirAsia’s Fly Fest which will offer the best value for money deals on flights, hotels, and activities, especially for destinations such as Osaka, Seoul, Kaohsiung, and Kuala Lumpur.  

Q1 performance


The low-cost carrier opened the year with a promising first quarter having enjoyed the highest load factor across all other regional AirAsia airline operations.

AirAsia Philippines posted a load factor of 92%, with its other metrics of flight frequency and passenger uplift increasing to just over 80% compared with its pre-pandemic levels.

The success for the first quarter turned on both the recovery of the Philippines domestic market as well as the surge in pent-up demand for international travel.

With its latest projections for quarter three of 2023, the carrier certainly building on this momentum to its advantage.

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