(File photo)
MANILA – AirAsia Philippines announced Wednesday it will be increasing flights between Manila and Hong Kong, from once weekly to thrice weekly, in December.
Due to the expected rise in travel demand, particularly among overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), the airline will mount flights every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday beginning Dec. 5.
AirAsia Philippines chief executive officer Ricky Isla, in a statement, said the carrier's goal is to give Filipinos the chance to go home with budget-friendly fares.
Data from the Department of Migrant Workers showed that over 188,000 Filipinos are currently working in Hong Kong as of August 2022.
Servicing mainly OFWs and business travelers from Hong Kong, AirAsia Philippines' Manila-Hong Kong route had a 70-percent load factor in the third quarter of 2022, signaling the uptrend in demand.
The Hong Kong government recently scrapped the compulsory quarantine for inbound travelers.
"We are also preparing for the restart of flights to Osaka and Taipei this December. (These are) highly viable routes for both economic and leisure travels," Isla told the Philippine News Agency.
He said the firm is also preparing to launch a new value product for its loyal guests next month. (PNA)
