Aklan guv optimistic of Air Asia’s presence in Kalibo airport

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Air Asia may soon increase its traffic volume in Kalibo International Airport this year after its decision to promote the airport as a major secondary hub.

With Air Asia moving and expanding to Kalibo International Airport, Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores is optimistic of the strategic plans to consider the airport as secondary hub due to growing congestion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City. 

Air Asia Inc. president and chief operating officer Marianne Hontiveros, in her letter to Miraflores, said Air Asia intends to fly regional routes to Malaysia, Korea, China and Taiwan this year.

The airline has seven regular flights daily from Kalibo to Manila and flights to Incheon and Pusan in South Korea and Beijing and Shanghai in China.

Koreans and Chinese tourists are the largest inbound tourism markets of Boracay Island. 

Three months from now, Air Asia will be operating 320 weekly flights with flights to the cities of Guangzhou, Wenzhou, Chendu, Changsha, Ningbo, Xiamen and Hangzhou in China.

Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores said the presence of Air Asia in Aklan contributes to the positive growth and is expected to show even stronger travel and tourism and promote employment. 

The affordable air services and improved air connectivity from Kalibo, Aklan to regional cities in Asia will also bolster the position of Kalibo International Airport as a major aviation hub.  

“Not only Boracay Island will benefit but also other tourist attractions of Aklan with the increase number of passengers from Asia region,” he said in an interview by Barangay 92.9 Super Radyo Kalibo.

Hontiveros has urged the provincial government for the timely completion of three additional parking bays in time for Air Asia’s expansion by June 25.

“The frequent delay of flights from Manila due to air traffic congestion at the NAIA has seriously impacted the on time performance of the airline. The lack of adequate parking bays at the Kalibo airport also contributed to the delay of flights,” she said.

The governor stressed “the construction of two aircraft parking bays are expected to be completed by end of June.”

Miraflores said he will also discuss the airport development plans with Transportation secretary Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo ‘Jun’ Abaya on Wednesday.