Budget carrier AirAsia Philippines is studying the possibility of developing Davao as its hub for Mindanao and is now bracing for the expected surge in demand for air travel in the fourth quarter of 2022.
AirAsia Philippines Spokesman Steve F. Dailisan said the group considers Davao as a major destination and may decide to develop it as a new hub.
“We are in the process of studying the viability of having Davao as a hub as it is a focal point of Mindanaoan commercial, cultural, and tourism activity,” he said in a text message.
In the shorter term, Dailisan said the budget carrier will increase the frequencies of its Manila-Davao and Cebu-Davao flights starting September in anticipation of the rise in demand for air travel in the “ber” months, which generally signals the start of the Christmas season in the Philippines.
AirAsia plans to add seven more flights per week on its Manila-Davao route, bringing its current 21 flights per week to 28 flights weekly.
“That is the projection. We are currently flying to Davao from Manila 21x weekly and the demand is high. In recent weeks, our flights to the city consistently logged a 100 percent load factor. We are growing our fleet as we brace for the fourth quarter travel demand, consequently allowing us to increase our frequency to several of our destinations,” he said.
AirAsia is also adding three weekly flights to its Cebu-Davao route, which currently operates four times per week.
“We are currently focused on growing our connectivity to and from our Cebu Hub, from which we fly to Davao 4x weekly. This is critical to our recovery strategy as Cebu has been a key hub for AirAsia even before the pandemic—second only to Manila. Expect that in the near future, we will be flying to Davao more from this hub,” Dailisan said.
He noted that the group will also be reopening its Davao operations from northern Luzon to add more options for Filipino travelers.
“We are also looking forward to reopening the Clark-Davao route to cater the market traveling from northern Philippines.”
Dailisan said AirAsia strongly believes in the viability of Davao as a destination, especially for ecotourism.
“What is inspiring about Davao is the drive of homegrown entrepreneurs to invest and expand locally. Davaoeño businesses are what will propel the city to achieve fast-recovery and a progressive economical stance. Inbound investors from industries like business process outsourcing will also prove to be pivotal to the growth of the city. And lastly, tourism. The success of the previous and current city administration in reinforcing safety and security in Davao City strengthens its viability to be a flagship ecotourism hub in Mindanao.”
Dailisan noted that AirAsia’s participation in the Kadayawan Festival, the first after two years of postponement due to the pandemic, is a sign that Filipinos are now more eager to travel.
“Davao being a commerce and tourism hub in Mindanao positions it for fast-recovery. Our immersion in the city allowed us to see a booming micro, small and medium enterprises sector. And we as a travel company are optimistic that the rebound of travel will stimulate this further.”