Tony Fernandes, the Group Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia Berhad is in Manila, Philippines today — more than three (03) years since he last visited the country. In a media briefing at AirAsia Philippines Headquarters in Pasay City Monday morning, Fernandes expressed his enthusiasm for the country and highlighted his commitment to investing not only in the airline but also in other sectors. He emphasized the potential of the Philippines as a tourist destination and discussed plans for expansion, improvements in service, and addressing pending refunds. The airline boss also touched on the importance of private and government-operated airports, the shortage of aircraft, and the company’s vision for diversifying its offerings through the airasia super app.
Fernandes acknowledged the challenges faced in the past but emphasized the company’s determination to make the Philippines one of its biggest markets. According to him, he believes that with the right investments, infrastructure improvements, and marketing efforts, the Philippines can attract as many tourists as Thailand.
“The Philippines is a very important market. It was like fix Malaysia, fix Thailand, fix Indonesia, and we now focus on the Philippines. It (the Philippines) honestly is our smallest market but I think it should be one of our biggest markets — it sits in the doorsteps of North Asia… fewer Asians go to the Philippines. I’m determined to make it a bigger operation,” said the AirAsia boss when asked what brought him to Manila.
Bringing Wide-body Aircraft to the Philippines
The AirAsia boss acknowledged the current shortage of aircraft and outlined strategies to overcome this challenge. He also mentioned the company’s substantial order book of over 400 planes, with deliveries scheduled to begin next year — in the interim, AirAsia is acquiring additional planes from the leasing market to meet demand. Fernandes cited the impact of COVID-19 on the global supply chain, particularly in terms of engine production, and highlighted the need for adjustments and adaptation.
“We definitely want to bring it to the Philippines. Our plan is to integrate AirAsia X and AirAsia more,” hinting that the airline’s newer wide-body aircraft will be seen flying Philippine routes soon.
On Prioritizing Customer Refunds & Financial Obligations
Fernandes addressed the issue of pending refunds in the Philippines, acknowledging that it is a priority for the company to honor its financial obligations. He reassured customers that AirAsia is working diligently to repay refunds and recommended taking credit shells, which can be used for future flights, as an alternative to cash refunds. The airline boss emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability, emphasizing that customer satisfaction and meeting financial obligations are paramount.
Increasing the Stake in AirAsia Philippines
When AvGeekPH asked him if there are plans of increasing his stake in AirAsia Philippines, the only response we got was, “Ask me in two month’s time.”