Even before the government lowered alert levels, AirAsia Philippines already recorded 145,978 seats sold for travels from March 1 to 31, 2022 alone, up 131 percent from the same period last year.
“We attribute this significant increase to revenge traveling with relaxed travel protocols being implemented in most of its destinations," explained Spokesperson Steve Dailisan.
"In fact, we are looking forward to sustaining full capacity in time for the various festivities in the different provinces we fly to," he noted.
“We are confident that summer 2022 is really the onset of recovery not only for AirAsia Philippines, but also for all other airlines in the country."
The budget carrier expects demand to surge due to different festive seasons from April to May, on top of sustained demand until May due to voters coming home to the provinces in preparation for the May 2022 election.
Already, the Malay-Boracay Tourism Office recorded 47,500 local and foreign tourist arrivals in the island for the month of February alone.
The Bohol Tourism Office also reported the same buoyancy as it recorded 4,196 tourist arrivals in January.
Puerto Princesa Tourism Office on the other hand recorded 1,158 tourist arrivals from December 2021 to February 2022.
In response, AirAsia Philippines increased its flight frequency for the month of March.
Flights to popular summer destinations like Caticlan have been increased from 18x weekly to 34x weekly; Kalibo which is another gateway to Boracay, from 7 x weekly to 11 x weekly; Cebu from 14 x weekly to 21 x weekly; Tagbilaran (Panglao) from 7 x weekly to 14 x weekly; Puerto Princesa from 7 x weekly to 14 x weekly.
Flight frequency to other destinations such as Bacolod was also increased from 7 x weekly to 14 x weekly; Iloilo from 7 x weekly to 14 x weekly; Tacloban from 21 x weekly to 23 x weekly; and Cagayan from 7 x weekly to 9 x weekly.
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) placed Metro Manila and 38 other provinces, mostly AirAsia destinations, under Alert Level 1 beginning today until 15 March.
Intrazonal and interzonal travel is allowed under Alert Level 1 for all public transport including airlines which will be at 100% capacity.
This is expected to entice more people to travel, especially that all AirAsia destinations are now accepting vaccination cards for fully inoculated travelers.
Partially vaccinated guests will also be accepted but subject to LGU travel requirements such as Antigen tests.