Edited by Randy Victoriano
News Release
April67, 2005

CLARK, Pampanga, April 6 (PNA) - At 10:45 am on Tuesday, AirAsia flight AK 32 from Kuala Lumpur made its first touch down at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA).

The appearance of AirAsia at the DMIA will go down in history as the first ever low fare, no frills airline in Asia to land in the former United States military base.

A welcome reception was held at the airport to mark the historical occasion. Present to welcome the 123 passengers were General Danilo Augusto Francia, president, Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC); Antonio R. Ng, President, Clark Development Corporation (CDC); Undersecretary Oscar Palabyab of the Department of Tourism; Tony Fernandez, Group, chief executive officer, AirAsia Berhad; Victor Jose Luciano, executive vice president, CDC; former DOT Secretary Narzalina Lim, board member, CDC; and other officials of the airline industry.

On board the aircraft were some 30 tour operators, 30 Malaysian journalists and commercial passengers.

Meanwhile, another AirAsia flight will also be making its debut Wednesday. Flight AK 502 from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, is expected approximately at 4:05 p.m. with 102 passengers on board.

"There is a tremendous potential for growth in the airline industry to be unlocked with low fares. AirAsia's role as a premier low fare, no frills airline, in Southeast Asia, has allowed our guests to travel and connect to an extensive available network of point to point flights in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Macau and China," said Fernandez.

He added, "Our presence now in the Philippines is a testament of our commitment to strive for a tighter and closer ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) community, while promoting the exchange of rich cultures, heritages, skills and friendship."

AirAsia's one-way fare from Clark to Kuala Lumpur is P1,949 (RM 99.99) one way. The round trip fare from Clark to Kuala Lumpur costs P5,313, inclusive of taxes, terminal fees, insurance surcharge and administration fee.

Fares for Kota Kinabalu to Clark is P1,799 (RM 69.99) one way, while round trip fare is P5,013.

"This is not just a promo. Our goal is to lower fares till kingdom come. Our cost is the lowest in the world," Fernandez pointed out.

Fernandez is confident that AirAsia will withstand the riding cost of aviation fuel. "We expect that jet fuel will stablize at 50 dollars, which is a very comfortable price."

At the same time, Ng said, "Today we create history as AirAsia is the first low fare airline to land in Clark. AirAsia has revolutionized the air travel indsutry to allow a great number of people the ability to fly with low, affordable fares."

He continued, "We are grateful to Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza for helping CDC/CIAC to pave the way for new flights under a liberalized air policy."

On the other hand, Luciano encouraged local residents and frequent travelers to take the opportunity offered by the cheap airlines through the DMIA as the main jump-off point to visit other parts of Asia.

The carrier intends to start flights to Cebu and Davao soon. With the huge market in Asia, the airline is determined to build an Asian brand and the Philippines is the last piece in the jigsaw puzzle, Fernandez said.

AirAsia has only started operations three years ago as a low cost carrier with just two Boeing 737-300s and an RM 40-million debt. Now capitalized at 1 billion US dollars, it has 30 aircraft operating 100 daily flights to local and international destination in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Macau and now the Philippines. It has carried over nine million passengers.

Recently, it has committed to acquire 100 Airbus A320s which will get it to one of the largest fleets in the region.

AirAsia operates a single type aircraft, the Boeing 737-300, regarded as the workhorse of the industry, capable of seating 148 passengers in one class. It is the best selling commercial jet of all time, made popular because of its efficiency and cost effectiveness. (PNA)


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