The company has submitted applications to Singapore, Malaysia, China, Thailand, Hong Kong and Macau for airport slots and flight permits two weeks ago, Marianne B. Hontiveros, AirAsia Philippines’ president and chief executive, said in a briefing.
“I think it would take two to six months,” she said.“For instance, it would depend on the diplomatic agreement between countries,” she added.
Flights will be immediately launched should papers be completed, Ms. Hontiveros said.
This, after the airline bagged on Feb. 7 a critical permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines that would enable them to apply for permits to other countries.
The company fulfilled additional requirements such as data on its aircraft, proposed initial training for crew, documentation of maintenance system, among others.
In the meantime, AirAsia Philippines said it will start operating domestic flights on March 29 in Clark, Pampanga with two flights per week going to Davao and Kalibo.
The carrier is a joint venture between AirAsia Bhd. which owns 40%, and Philippine businessmen Ms. Hontiveros, Antonio O. Cojuangco III and Michael L. Romero.
The firm’s entry poses competition to local carriers Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines which likewise operate routes from the Philippines to elsewhere in the region.
AirAsia Philippines’ parent has been flying to the country since 2005 from Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu
In the last quarter of 2011, AirAsia Philippines had been granted seat allocations by the Civil Aeronautics Board for flights to Malaysia, Cambodia and Japan.
The carrier was granted seats on the Clark to Kuala Lumpur route.
It was also granted allocations for flights on Clark to Cambodia route.
AirAsia Philippines was also granted flights either on the Clark-Osaka route or Clark-Nagoya route.
The company expects to serve 857,000 passengers for its first full year of operations by offering the lowest possible rates and matching cheap flight offerings of rival carriers.
In August last year, the carrier’s first aircraft, a 180-seater Airbus A320, arrived at its hub in Clark.
Its second aircraft, meanwhile, was delivered latter part of 2011.
She also said that the company would be adding two more airbuses in the second half the year, while it is eyeing to have 14-16 airbuses in its fleet in the next five years. -- Cliff Harvey C. Venzon
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