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Friday, March 29, 2024

China dispute affects AirAsia

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The territorial dispute between Manila and Beijing could be a “spoiler” for Philippines Air Asia’s planned to mount flights to China from Palawan, the Center for Asia Pacific Aviation said.

Philippines AirAsia plans to launch scheduled international flights from Puerto Princesa to China and potentially other international destinations including Malaysia, it said.

“Shanghai would be a logical initial route for AirAsia’s new international hub at Puerto Princesa as PAA/AirAsia Zest already serve Shanghai from Kalibo and has been looking at resuming service to Shanghai from Manila,” CAPA said. 

“AirAsia is keen to leverage its strong presence in the Chinese international market, where it is the leading LCC, by opening new routes to popular leisure destinations throughout Southeast Asia. AirAsia is already serving China from several secondary airports, including Krabi in Thailand and Kalibo in the Philippines,” it said.

The report, however, said Air Asia’s aspirations for serving China from Puerto Princesa may also prove to be “overly ambitious, particularly if tensions between China and the Philippines do not ease.”

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It said Puerto Princesa is a particularly “sensitive destination” for China-Philippines relations as it is the closest part of the Philippines to the disputed Spratly archipelago. 

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