Capital A is considering making Manila Ninoy Aquino International a "hub to the United States" by launching flights to destinations such as Los Angeles International in 2025, Tony Fernandes, Group CEO, said during a virtual press conference on January 9.
He said that the company was looking to use the Philippine capital as well as Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur International and Thailand's Bangkok Suvarnabhumi as hubs for US flights.
However, reports contradicted Fernandes' words on the matter. Malaya Business Insight quoted him as saying: “…Manila to Malaysia and fly to the US […] and from Thailand. We had this approach of a multi-hub strategy to fly around the world, that’s the advantage we have.” However, the Philippine Daily Inquirer quoted him as saying: “Manila will be a very good hub into America. [...] With Thailand, Jakarta, Manila, and Kuala Lumpur, we can cover the world.”
AirAsia Group carriers include Malaysia's AirAsia and AirAsia X as well as Philippines AirAsia, Thai AirAsia, Indonesia AirAsia, and Indonesia AirAsia X.
AirAsia Group had not responded to ch-aviation’s request for comment at the time of going to press.
Philippines AirAsia operates a fleet of twenty-five A320-200s, which would not have the range to fly to US destinations. Kuala Lumpur-based AirAsia, on the other hand, has 102 aircraft, including sixty-nine A320-200s, twenty-nine A320-200N, and two A321-200NX (with 362 of the latter type to be delivered), while AirAsia X operates eighteen A330-300 widebodies.
