AirAsia Philippines has reaffirmed its strong commitment to flight safety and operational resilience as it joins forces with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), the Air Carriers Association of the Philippines (ACAP), and other key aviation stakeholders to address the growing challenge of bird strike incidents across domestic airports.
The airline revealed that bird strikes — when birds collide with an aircraft during takeoff or landing — remain a pressing concern for the aviation industry. While most incidents cause minimal damage, they can lead to costly aircraft inspections, repairs, and flight delays. In more severe cases, these events pose potential risks to flight operations.
From January to August 2025 alone, AirAsia Philippines recorded more than 90 bird strike incidents across its network. While the majority were classified as minor and effectively handled through the airline’s Safety Risk Management Process, six incidents resulted in confirmed aircraft component damage. Despite this, the airline assured passengers that flight safety was never compromised, with affected aircraft undergoing immediate inspections and necessary repairs before returning to service.
A key focus area is Tacloban Airport (TAC | RPVA), where the presence of birds in the runway environment has been particularly notable. In response to the airline’s reports, CAAP has committed to deploying biologists and wildlife experts who will work alongside local authorities to implement mitigation measures. These may include habitat management, bird dispersal programs, and closer monitoring of wildlife activity.
AirAsia Philippines President and CEO Capt. Suresh Bangah highlighted the importance of collaboration in addressing wildlife hazards, saying, “While wildlife activity is a natural occurrence around airports, even a single bird can already pose a risk during takeoff and landing. That’s why wildlife hazard management isn’t something airlines can do alone — it requires a collective effort among government, airport operators, and the entire industry. We are proud to work closely with CAAP, ACAP, airport partners, and fellow airlines to ensure that our skies stay safe for everyone.”
To further enhance safety, AirAsia has intensified advisories for flight crews operating in high-risk airports. The airline also reinforced coordination between its operations, engineering, and ground teams to ensure swift reporting, inspections, and responses to incidents. In addition, the airline regularly analyzes bird strike trends, with findings submitted to its Flight Safety and Data Analysis Program and reviewed quarterly by the Safety Review Board.