AirAsia Philippines is taking another major step toward greener aviation by deploying Combo Units: advanced ground service equipment that combines an Air Conditioning Unit (ACU) and a Ground Power Unit (GPU) into one system. This innovation aims to improve fuel efficiency, reduce ground-level carbon emissions, and enhance overall airport operations.
The initiative aligns with the AirAsia Aviation Group’s broader regional decarbonization strategy. AirAsia Philippines becomes the second airline in the group to adopt Combo Units at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), following their successful implementation in Malaysia. The equipment provides aircraft parked on the ramp with electrical and air-cooling support, allowing airlines to minimize the use of Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) — one of the primary sources of ground-level fuel consumption and emissions.
By using Combo Units instead of APUs, AirAsia Philippines can lower ground emissions by up to 90% during optimal use. This not only reduces carbon output but also lessens noise and air pollution around the ramp area, improving working conditions for baggage handlers and ground crews. The airline estimates that the initial deployment of two Combo Units will deliver a reduction of approximately 1,300 tonnes of CO₂ annually.
According to AirAsia Philippines CEO Capt. Suresh Bangah, the introduction of these Combo Units supports both environmental and passenger experience goals. The units allow the airline to cut fuel consumption while maintaining comfortable cabin temperatures during boarding and turnaround times. The move is part of AirAsia’s long-term sustainability vision to balance operational efficiency with environmental responsibility.
This latest milestone complements AirAsia Philippines’ broader fuel efficiency program, which has already shown tangible results. In 2024 alone, the airline saved 3,851 tonnes of fuel and avoided 12,169 tonnes of CO₂ emissions. These initiatives collectively improved the carrier’s carbon intensity, with CO₂ emissions per available seat kilometer (CO₂/ASK) dropping by 1.2 grams to 73.9 grams, and CO₂ per revenue passenger kilometer (CO₂/RPK) falling by 3.1 grams to 82.8 grams — largely due to better efficiency and higher load factors.
Beyond ground operations, AirAsia Philippines continues to improve its cabin waste management practices through circular economy principles. Waste generated in-flight is segregated and processed to minimize landfill impact, with 37% of total in-flight waste successfully diverted from landfills in the past year. Additionally, Santan Philippines — the airline’s in-flight food and beverage partner — plans to replace single-use plastic packaging with compostable polylactic acid (PLA) materials by October 2026. Derived from renewable sources such as corn and cassava, PLA packaging represents a significant shift toward sustainable food service operations.
AirAsia’s sustainability initiatives have not gone unnoticed globally. The airline was named among the top three Low-Cost Carriers in AirlineRatings.com’s inaugural Sustainability Awards. It also earned a perfect 10/10 score in 42kft.com’s first Environmental Audit, which evaluated 142 airlines worldwide, placing AirAsia among the top 25 carriers globally for environmental performance.
Through initiatives like these, AirAsia Philippines continues to integrate sustainability across all aspects of its operations, reinforcing its commitment to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050.