AirAsia opens new China routes from ‘gateway to Boracay island’

AirAsia has added several flights to Macau, Kunming, and Chengdu from Kalibo International Airport, gateway to Boracay island in the Philippines.

The Kalibo-Macau route will commence on March 2, 2019 with three flights weekly, while Kalibo-Chengdu will begin on January24 operating four times weekly and Kalibo-Kunming on January 25 at three times weekly.

AirAsia earlier announced it will operate the Kalibo-Hangzhou route starting January 18. 

The airline is “ringing in the new year with additional international flights … to boost tourism in our paradise island,” said Captain Dexter Comendador, AirAsia Philippines CEO.

“China is an important market for leisure and tourism and we are excited to bring them back to Boracay. Direct flights will provide ease and comfort for Chinese tourists while giving the local tourism industry a necessary boost after the rehabilitation works that closed the island to all tourists for six months last year,” Comendador added.

The Airline is offering introductory promotional fares for BIG Loyalty program members. From as low as P990, booking started on Monday, January 7, until January 20.

Known for its cultural diversity, Kunming is the capital of Yunnan province in China, the airline said. It has 25 ethnic groups forming the perfect blend of culture and heritage, and natural wonders such as the limestone formations in Shilin (Stone Forest), a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Jiu Xiang Cave, and Dongchuan Red Land.

Chengdu is one of the biggest cities in China, and is known for its culinary and cultural flair. “This Sichuan capital has been described as ‘mellower, with eternally good vibes and clean and fun-loving’ compared with megacities of Beijing and Shanghai,” according to AirAsia.

Macau is an autonomous region on the south coast of China located across the Pearl River Delta from Hong Kong. A Portuguese territory until 1999, Macau has been nicknamed the “Las Vegas of Asia.” One of its more striking landmarks is 338-meter-high Macau Tower.

AirAsia Philippines is a wholly owned subsidiary of AirAsia Philippines Inc., a joint venture between Filipino investors Antonio O. Cojuangco, former Ambassador Alfredo M. Yao, Michael L. Romero, Marianne B. Hontiveros, and Malaysia’s AirAsia Group Berhad.

The airline started commercial operations in 2012 in Clark, Pampanga and has since expanded to include hubs in Manila, Cebu, Clark, and Kalibo. —VDS, GMA News