Philippines AirAsia To Add 19 A320s, 20 A321s

 27 June 2023

Philippine-based low cost carrier AirAsia expects to increase its fleet by nineteen A320s beginning July this year and return all remaining parked planes consisting of seven frames to service by August, according to Capital A President Tony Fernandes. 

PAA has current fleet of 15 A320 aircraft.

“We have already signed up 19 aircraft, and are negotiating for more,” Fernandes told the press at the Paris Air Show media briefing. 

“AirAsia also expects to have all 204 of its aircraft inventory reactivated by the end of August this year, and achieve 100% of pre-pandemic capacity in the coming months.” Fernandes said.

Fernandes says that he expects the first of the additional 19 aircraft to arrive in July from its fleet depot in Malaysia.

Fernandes says 362 A321-200NX are on order with Airbus, with deliveries scheduled from 2024, while long-haul AirAsia X operations would get an additional fifteen 15 widebodies (the three AirAsia X airlines operate A330-300s).

Out of the 362 A22N frames, Philippines will get “up to twenty” A321-200NY(XLR)s. He added that PAA will get 3-4 A330s out of the 15 orders, and would also begin flying into the Philippines soon, although he did not specify a timeline for this. 

Capital A’s cargo and logistics business, Teleport, is also expected to take the first of three A321Fs in July for operations also in the Philippines.

The group’s airline interests include Malaysia-based AirAsia, AirAsia X, Philippines AirAsia, Indonesia AirAsia, Indonesia AirAsia X, Thai AirAsia, and Thai AirAsia X. 

Fernandes said Capital A will also launch AirAsia Cambodia this year. 

Romero Sell AirAsia Philippines to Fernandes

5 June 2023

Philippine low cost carrier Philippines AirAsia (AirAsia) was formally sold to its parent company AirAsia Aviation Ltd. of Malaysia, controlled by business magnate Tony Fernandes for an undisclosed amount.

Philippines AirAsia (Z2), formerly known as Zest Air prior to merger with AirAsia Philippines (AAP), was controlled by F&S Holdings Inc., of Michael Romero, holding 60% share of the company, divided between Antonio Cojuanco (20%), Romero (20%) and Marianne Hontiveros (20%), while 40% was held by Capital A, formerly AirAsia Group, controlled by Malaysian magnate Tony Fernandes.

The 60% share was sold to Tony Fernandes controlled company AirAsia Com Travel (AA Com Travel Phils. Inc.), a subsidiary of AirAsia Aviation Ltd., holding company of Capital A, which owns the 40% equity share of PAA, making Tony Fernandes the sole owner of AirAsia in the Philippines.

The sale was approved by the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) this month after the Philippine government lifted restriction to foreign ownership of airlines under the new Public Service Act (RA 11659) approved by President Rodrigo Duterte in March 21, 2022. The law took effect beginning April 1, 2023.

AirAsia operates flight to and from Manila to Puerto Princesa, Bacolod, Iloilo, Tacloban, Kalibo, Caticlan, Cebu, Tagbilaran, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, and Zamboanga. It also operates hub in Clark and Cebu using a fleet of 20 Airbus A320 aircraft as of June 1, 2023 for its domestic and international operations which includes flights to Bangkok, Singapore, Taipei, Osaka, Seoul, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Bali.

Tony Fernandes said he intends to grow the fleet to its Philippine branch to 30 Airbus A320 aircraft at the end of this year. He also proposes to introduce two (2) widebody A330 aircraft for its domestic and international operations in Cebu and Davao from its hub in Manila, as well as to international flights to Bangkok, Seoul, and Hong Kong for introduction next year.