By Emmie V. Abadilla
AirAsia continues to expand its international network with the addition of several flights to Macau, Kunming, and Chengdu from Kalibo International Airport, gateway to Boracay island in the Philippines.
“We are ringing in the new year with additional international flights to Boracay via Kalibo International Airport from three new destinations to once again boost tourism in our paradise island,” AirAsia Philippines CEO Captain Dexter Comendador announced.
The airline is offering introductory promotional fares of P990 available for booking at airasia.com from January 10 until January 20, 2019.
AirAsia’s Kalibo-Macau service will start on March 2, 2019 with three flights weekly while Kalibo-Chengdu will begin on January 24, 2019 operating four times weekly and Kalibo-Kunming on January 25, 2019 at three times weekly.
“China is an important market for leisure and tourism and we are excited to bring them back to Boracay,” according to the CEO.
“Direct flights will provide ease and comfort for Chinese tourists while giving local tourism industry a necessary boost after the rehabilitation works that closed the island to all tourists for six months last year.”
Earlier, AirAsia announced it will operate Kalibo-Hangzhou starting January 18, 2019.
The AirAsia Group has multiple routes to and from China from its hubs in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines. AirAsia operates flights to Macau, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Hangzhou from hubs in Manila, Cebu, and Kalibo.
Kunming is the capital of Yunnan province in China. It is known for its cultural diversity, being home to 25 ethnic groups. Its limestone formations in Shilin (Stone Forest) is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Other sites of interest include Jiu Xiang Cave and Dongchuan Red Land.
Chengdu, is one of the biggest cities in China, a culinary and cultural attraction, the “mellower” version of megacities Beijing and Shanghai.