Air Asia will be returning to Clark International Airport (CIA) with the re-introduction of its direct flights to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The budget carrier is set to restart its Clark flights on October 17 with fares starting as low as P1,390 inclusive of taxes and fees.
This developed as local officials extolled the return of Air Asia to Ronnie Tiotuico, Department of Tourism (DOT) Central Luzon regional director, said the return of the budget airlines to Clark will certainly boost the tourism industry not only in Pampanga but in the region as well.
“This is a clear indication that the tourism industry in the region is on the uptrend,” he said. Alfred Reyes, general manager of Widus Hotel and Casino here and vice president of the Greater Clark Visitors Bureau (GCVB), also said this would boost the tourism industry in the area. “It went down when Air Asia left,” Reyes noted.
“This can be gleaned from the 90 percent occupancy rate of Tune Hotel (owned by Air Asia and located just outside the Clark south perimeter fence) which drastically fell after it stopped its Clark flights,” said Reyes.
Gilda Padua, president of the (GCVB) and proprietor of travel agencies, Ties That Travel and Travel Order, said the industry is all excited with the return of Air Asia to Clark. “Now we are assured of tourist arrivals directly from the Clark airport,” she said.
Board Member Mike Tapang, president of the Philippine Councilors League – Pampanga Chapter, said the return of Air Asia to Clark is “a welcome development.” “That would be a big help for the tourism industry in the province,” he said. “It is now time to intensify the promotion of tourism activities in the province in order to attract more tourists.”
Air Asia of Malaysia will operate flights to CIA four times each week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Once flights are restored, Clark will become the fourth destination in the Philippines for the Malaysia based carrier.
CIA was originally Air Asia’s first destination in the Philippines and previously served as the hub for its local affiliate, Air Asia Philippines. When Air Asia decided to shift the focus of its operations to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, Air Asia Group CEO Tony Fernandes told local media that the carrier would one day return to Clark.
For tourists coming from Malaysia, it serves as an important gateway to the northern Philippines including popular destinations such as Baguio City and as an alternate gateway to Manila.
Local travelers will be able to use the service to connect directly to a number of flights throughout Southeast Asia, India, and Australia via Air Asia’s largest hub in Kuala Lumpur.
Air Asia also flies direct from Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur to Manila on a daily basis with flights operated by Air Asia’s local affiliate, AirAsia Zest. AirAsia is the largest low-cost airline in Asia with a network covering 88 destinations with more than 150 aircraft.
It has been voted the World’s Best Low Cost Airline in the annual World Airline Survey for the past six consecutive years. Air Asia recently announced that it will increase the number of flights between Kuala Lumpur and Kalibo from four times weekly to daily service.
