The chief executive officer of Air Asia minced no words about how the Duterte administration has been addressing air connectivity and in promoting tourism in the ASEAN region, leading his company to do its share in the process.
“We believe this government walks the talk,” said Tan Sri Anthony Francis Fernandes, Air Asia CEO in a talk before the 4th Davao Investment Conference on July 21.
He added that what the company discussed with the Philippine government in Cambodia are already being put in place, with him just getting an update.
He said that with the firm commitment of the Philippine government, Air Asia has decided to launch ‘much quicker that many would believe’ a direct flight connecting Davao City to Kuala Lumpur at only P99.
The first flight is scheduled for December 21, 2017.
He said the company has come to this decision after he had a talk with President Duterte last May.
The opening of the direct flight was not in the company’s immediate plans but with the commitment the Philippine government showed, Air Asia decided to launch it without any second thought.
He said the company sees a great potential for the tourism and transport industry in the Philippines “because of the many beautiful places that the world needs to see.”
Fernandes said the company also aims to help the SME’s in the transport of their products.
He added that the company will start with one aircraft that will have a direct flight going to Kuala Lumpur. “It is just a start but we will be needing more help from the airport and from the government” Francisco said.
In his talk at Davao investment Conference he suggested to remove the travel tax in the airport as it does not have much international flights anyway.
He said the Department of tourism will not be losing much in the process.
He added: “After which (let us) observe that effect of that action and see the benefits the country will be gaining. If everything goes well then the government might have the confidence to totally remove it. With this partnership of Air Asia and the Philippine government, the people will be expecting more flights to be mounted in Visayas and Mindanao.”
