AirAsia Philippines backs LGU’s call to scrap RT-PCR tests for fully vaccinated guests

AirAsia Philippines is strongly backing the calls of local government units to scrap the use of negative RT-PCR tests as travel requirements for incoming visitors who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Majority of the Local Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) still requires the submission of a negative RT-PCR test result before entry to their provinces as part of the measures to contain the spread of COVID-19.

However, during a dialogue with Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion, other local government units such as Palawan, Aklan and Cebu pushed for lesser restrictions and a more simplified entry requirement for fully vaccinated travelers. The provincial government of Bohol meanwhile said vaccine cards must be fully authenticated to allow mobility of vaccinated tourists.

AirAsia Philippines makes travel seamless with the Health Travel Icon on the airasia Super App

In its continuing commitment to make air travel better and even safer in the new normal, AirAsia Philippines’ guests will soon experience seamless verification of vaccine information through airasia Super App in collaboration with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

The Travel Health Icon will soon be made available to all passengers through the AirAsia Super App, and the airasia website for desktop users. Under the new integrated system, verified vaccination information of guests will be uploaded on the airasia Super App through the Department of Health’s (DOH) VaxCertPH.

The DICT recently developed VaxCertPH for the DOH to help verify legitimacy and certify a passenger’s vaccination status. This is also in compliance with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guidelines on the issuance of digital vaccine certificates.

AirAsia Philippines ready to fly guests to leisure destinations!

AirAsia Philippines welcomes non-essential travelers from Metro Manila to some of the most popular leisure destinations, as the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) against COVID-19 downgrades quarantine restrictions to General Community Quarantine (GCQ) Alert Level 4.

As specified in the IATF Memorandum No. 136-A, interzonal travel will be allowed for guests who are above 18 and under 65 years of age, subject to quarantine restrictions imposed by the Local Government Unit (LGU) including their intended destination.

Leisure travelers from Metro Manila may now fly with AirAsia to Caticlan (Boracay), Davao, Zamboanga, Tacloban and Tagbilaran in Bohol as the respective local restrictions accept guests to these locations under Alert Level 4.

AirAsia Philippines welcomes return of leisure travel with UNLI Flight Pass extension until 2022!

AirAsia Philippines is giving its 12,000 UNLI Flight Pass holders great value for money and great ease especially with the return of leisure travel in the National Capital Region (NCR) starting 8 September!

Beginning September 8-30, 2021, AirAsia will start to fly travelers to Cebu (CEB), Davao (DVO), Zamboanga (ZAM), Panglao (TAG), Tacloban (TAC) and Caticlan (MPH).

Following IATF Resolution 136-F, interzonal travel will be allowed from GCQ to GCQ or GCQ to MGCQ areas subject to restrictions of the local government unit of destination and strict health and safety protocols such as the presentation of a negative RT-PCR test upon arrival.

UNLI Flight Pass’ extension comes in handy as its original 16 October 2021 redemption period is extended until 17 January 2022.  Consequently, the travel period has been extended from 30 October 2021 to 31 January 2022.

We are travel REDy Mission Accomplished: AirAsia Philippines COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign

 

Exactly 4 months after kicking off its internal ‘Take the Shot’ campaign, AirAsia Philippines is happy to report that the move to encourage Filipino Allstars to get vaccinated was a great success.

‘Take the Shot’ campaign was targeted to be completed by the end of August.  As of 30 August 2020, AirAsia Philippines’ flying crew is now a hairline towards the 100% mark.  213 out of the 217 or 98% of the cabin crew roster have been vaccinated while 106 out of 109 or 98% of the pilots have also taken the shot.

Meanwhile, 92% of the guest services (check-in counter and boarding gate staff) and 100% of the ramp agents have received their vaccine shots.

AirAsia Philippines extends UNLI Flight Pass until 2022 UNLIPAD na this Ber months

AirAsia Philippines is giving its 12,000 UNLI Flight Pass holders great value for money and great ease for future travel as redemption for the promo has been extended until 2022!

From its original 16 October 2021 redemption period, UNLI Flight Pass redemption is extended until 17 January 2022. Consequently, the travel period has been extended from 30 October 2021 to 31 January 2022.

UNLI Flight Pass was tremendously welcomed by travel enthusiasts, mostly young professionals and families during its launch in November 2020.  It has also become the travel partner of essential travelers and Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APOR) such as medical frontliners and members of the uniformed services like different branches of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

AirAsia Philippines provides hassle-free journey for APORs and returning OFWs with ‘Fly Home Safe’

Understanding the importance of their immediate need to go back to their provinces during the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ), AirAsia Philippines is offering Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APOR) and returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) a hassle-free, convenient and safe way of traveling through the “Fly Home Safe” promo.

For as low as Php199 one-way base fare, APOR and returning OFWs who are BIG members can fly back to their home town in different provinces such as Puerto Princesa, Iloilo, Caticlan, Tacloban, Bohol, Kalibo, Cagayan De Oro, Bacolod, Davao, General Santos and Zamboanga.

Booking should be made from 30 August to 5 September to avail of the promo which is available for travel from 30 August 2021 to 31 January 2022.  To provide maximum convenience to travelers, “Fly Home Safe” promo also offers an unlimited date change. 

AirAsia sends livelihood assistance to displaced Badjao tribes, ramps up cargo operations in Southern Mindanao

 

AirAsia Philippines today partners with the Asian Hospital Charities, Inc. (AHCI) in delivering much-needed help to displaced Badjao communities in Zamboanga as it also ramps up its cargo operations in Southern Mindanao.

17 boxes of sewing machines, pocket wi-fi units, AirAsia alwaysREDy care kits, and other AirAsia gift items arrived at Zamboanga International Airport via AirAsia flight Z2-651 Tuesday morning. The donations were intended to be distributed to Sama Central Badjao recipients of the Parhimpunan Almasihin Fellowship & Missions church in Baranggay Sangali, Pasobolong, Zambowood, Mercedez, Arena Blanco, Karagasan, Sinunuc, Sangali, Rio Hondo, Mulu-Muluan, Mampang, and Upper Clarian.

These sewing machines are expected to jumpstart livelihood projects and sustain Badjao communities in different barangays. Aided with technology, the recipients through the help of their organization intend to market their products through different online selling platforms.

AirAsia Philippines supports recovery of Asian economy through special chartered flights for Pinoy seafarers

 

AirAsia Philippines continues to support trade in the Asian region while continuing to assist Filipino seafarers who are either returning to their families in the Philippines or going back to their posts abroad.

AirAsia Philippines ferried 70 Filipino seafarers from Manila to Matalla Rajapaksa International Airport in Sri Lanka via flight Z28160 on 12 August 2021.  The Filipino mariners had just finished their annual vacation and renewed their contracts to return to their posts at the port of Colombo and Port of Hambatota in Sri Lanka.  From there, they will be travelling around the world onboard their vessels carrying petroleum products, foods and other commodities.

Meanwhile, 77 Pinoy mariners who boarded the return flight (Z2-8161) arrived at NAIA Terminal 3 and were brought to a hotel for the mandatory 14-day quarantine before they can be  reunited with their families.

Over 90% of AirAsia Philippines guests express confidence to fly with fully vaccinated crew

 

In a strong show of confidence towards the airline’s efforts in ensuring safety and wellbeing of its guests and employees, a sweeping majority of AirAsia Philippines guests polled in a recent survey said they are now more confident to travel knowing that the ground staff and flight crew they are interacting with, before and during their flights are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

In a survey conducted by AirAsia Philippines from July 23, 24, 27 and 28 to 1,600 guests flying out of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 to destinations like Bohol, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu and Davao, 1,463 or 91.4% of the guests answered yes on the question, “Does having a fully vaccinated crew add confidence to your flight?”  Only 132 or  8.6% of the passengers answered no, and have raised concerns about other unvaccinated passengers during their flight.

As of August 4, 2021, 70% of the 1,500 Filipino Allstars have received their COVID-19 shots. With the threats of the Delta variant,  AirAsia Philippines is proactively campaigning to inoculate its entire workforce within the year.

AirAsia Philippines strengthens chartered repatriation flights

 

AirAsia Philippines has strengthened its chartered repatriation flights to service more Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) who are stranded abroad and are eager to be reunited with their families. The timely shift to expand chartered operations comes as restrictions on commercial flights are observed for the duration of the stricter quarantine measures in NCR Plus and other leisure destinations.

For the first time, AirAsia flew to the Indonesian province of Riau to ferry 39 seafarers from Hang Nadim Airport, Batam, Indonesia on Tuesday, 10 August 2021 who safely returned to Manila at around 10:00pm via the return flight Z2 8283.

Batam-Manila repatriation flights will be mounted on a per request basis from partner manning agencies.

Meanwhile, around 100 Filipino seafarers from Matalla, Sri Lanka arrived via Z2 8160 last week, on 5 August 2021.

AirAsia Philippines celebrates Filipina boxer Nesthy Petecio’s Silver Olympic victory with 5-Year UNLI FLIGHTS

 

AirAsia Philippines is one with the Filipino people in honoring boxer, Nesthy Petecio who bagged Silver in the women’s featherweight division. The Davaoeño boxer’s heart-stopping bout over Japanese boxer Sena Ire gave the Philippines its second medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

More than bagging the silver, Nesthy Petecio made history as the first Filipina boxer to win an olympic medal (Photo: Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

To honor the Philippines’ first Filipina boxer silver medalist, AirAsia Philippines is giving Petecio 5 YEARS UNLIMITED FLIGHTS.

alwaysREDy: anytime, anywhere AirAsia activates disaster response program and sustainability initiatives

 

AirAsia has officially activated its disaster response program alwaysREDy to bring the much-needed help to Filipinos affected by typhoons and other calamities in the country.

alwaysREDy: anytime, anywhere is AirAsia Philippines’ quick response program under its Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability initiative which is backed by long-time partners Philippine Air Force, Christ’s Commission Foundation Ministries, Inc. (CCF) and New Life Community Care Foundation (NLCOM).  It aims to widen the reach of the disaster relief efforts to more communities regardless of time and location.

AirAsia Philippines CEO Ricky Isla said, “It is timely that we are activating this program especially now that the rainy season has already started and we are still facing different calamities such as the eruption of Mt. Taal and sporadic earthquakes. alwaysREDy: anytime, anywhere breaks the norm of providing help when needed only.”

AirAsia to fly only essential travelers during ECQ

 

In light of the government’s directive to place the National Capital Region (NCR) under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restriction from July 30, 2021 to August 5, 2021 and Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) from August 6 to 20, 2021, AirAsia reminds its guests that only essential travel such as Authorized Persons Outside their Residences (APOR) shall be allowed to travel into and out of the NCR plus (Cavite, Bulacan, Laguna, and Rizal) as mandated by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).

AirAsia likewise informs its guests from NCR Plus, Cebu and Davao City on the “Temporary Suspension” of inbound travel to Iloilo City, Iloilo Province and Cagayan de Oro City from August 1 to 7, 2021, as mandated under Resolution No. 108 by the IATF-Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

More AirAsia Philippines (Z2) flights operate with fully vaccinated flight crew

 

Guests of AirAsia Philippines flight Z2 775 Manila-Cebu and Z2 776 Cebu-Manila today were greeted and assisted by fully vaccinated ground staff. The flight was also manned by a fully vaccinated crew from pilots to cabin crew and ramp agents.

Capt. Nielfren Baldo Pilot-In-Command of Z2 775 said, “We hope this becomes an added value of protection to our guests as more and more members of the flight crew get inoculated. As a frontliner, I feel more confident flying our guests to our various destinations, and I have peace of mind whenever I come home to my family because now, I am protected against the severe effects of COVID-19.”

AirAsia Philippines supports ‘Green Lane’ for fully vaccinated individuals, calls for standardized vaccination verification

AirAsia supports the initiative of the Health Department in establishing a more stringent procedure in verifying the validity of the vaccine documents presented by fully vaccinated travelers who are doing intrazonal travel for tourism, business and other purposes.

The Department of Health (DOH)  has recently given Local Government Units (LGUs) the authority to determine travel requirements for entry into their jurisdictions.

AirAsia Philippines Spokesperson Steve Dailisan said, “AirAsia believes that the ‘green lane’ for fully vaccinated individuals will encourage more leisure travelers who have previously expressed concerns on varying requirements per destination. This will save them time and money in securing testing requirements.”

airasia Super Sale returns with more deals for everyone

The airasia Super Sale returns with amazing deals for everyone, offering even more products and services on the airasia super app with great value travel deals. Throughout the 7-day Super Sale period, guests can enjoy up to 50% off on flights, and up to 20% off on flight add ons such as pre-booked baggage and seats.

Book your flight + hotel combo via SNAP and pay from as low as P1,869 for roundtrip tickets and a three-day, two-night stay in Boracay, or check out airasia’s partner establishments via Hotels to enjoy up to 60% off their chosen accommodations.

Meanwhile, shoppers can buy their favorite travel retail items at the airasia shop, with prices up to 50% off and free delivery.

Be a Responsible Traveler and make your last-minute summer plans happen with AirAsia with Updated Flight Schedule

Summer isn’t yet over and travel junkies can now fly to their favorite AirAsia destinations and still beat the heat, as the national government eases the restrictions on leisure travel after almost two months of lockdown within the NCR Plus bubble.

Under the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Resolution 118-A, leisure travel can now resume from NCR Plus to provinces under Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ), subject to travel regulations set by their respective LGUs and their local IATF.

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said the lighter travel restriction must be dealt with utmost precaution.

The tourism chief added, “Allowing leisure travel for all ages from the NCR Plus Bubble to MGCQ Areas will surely help local tourism back on track towards recovery.”

Allstars’ Digital Transformation: Shifting to new roles and turning turbulence around

After years of enabling everyone to fly, AirAsia has come a long way by transforming itself to becoming a leading travel and financial platform in Asia Pacific, providing air transport, travel and lifestyle services, as well as financial services. AirAsia is proving to be not only a major player, but a disruptor in the rising digital economy.

In this fast paced and constantly shifting business environment, AirAsia continues to invest in its greatest asset, its people. The company’s digital transformation extends beyond its vast and unique products and services, and applies internally as more Allstars are shifting to digital roles, growing alongside the company which continues to evolve amidst a pandemic.

As flight operations have lessened due to travel restrictions, former Allstar Cabin Crew members share their inspiring stories of marching on, rising up to the challenge of new digital roles, and adapting to change with determination and hope.

DEDICATED TO THE JOURNEY

Christian “Badi” Badilles, Cabin Crew to Integrated Marketing Branding Officer

AirAsia joins various stakeholders in discussing tourism recovery in Bohol, calls for digitalization and vaccination of tourism frontliners

 

In its efforts to help boost tourism and economic recovery in Bohol, AirAsia participated in a meeting spearheaded by Bohol Governor Arthur C. Yap, to discuss “Prospects for Bohol Tourism in the Context of Current Realities in the War Against COVID”.

The virtual meeting took place on Monday, 24 May 2021, and was attended by guest speakers Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Vaccine Czar of the Philippines Secretary Carlito Galvez represented by Major General Mel Feliciano, Presidential Adviser on Entrepreneurship Secretary Joey Concepcion, Governor Arthur C. Yap, airline executives and business leaders from the Hotels and Resorts association.

The local government of Bohol shared its extensive plans on recovery and best practices in the implementation of bubble tourism which could also be a benchmark for other leisure destinations in the country.