AirAsia planning to put up own terminal in Davao

DAVAO CITY – Malaysia’s budget carrier AirAsia bared plans to build a separate terminal at the Davao International Airport that will exclusively cater to passengers for its flights, which will include those taking the newly launched, four times a week Davao City-Kuala Lumpur direct flights.

Department of Tourism (DOT) 11 director Roberto Alabado said it was no less than AirAsia chief executive officer Anthony Francis “Tony” Fernandes who brought up the plan during the recent Davao Investment Conference at the SMX Convention Center.

Before the Davao-KL direct connectivity, Alabado noted that Mindanao was not connected to the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) sub-economic region.

He said he believes if Fernandes’ plan pushes through, it will open up more destinations in the Southeast Asia and China from the F. Bangoy International Airport in Davao.

“Tony Fernandes committed to have more flights coming from Davao,” he said.

Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) Chairman Antonio Dela Cruz hopes that AirAsia will also open direct routes to Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia, Jakarta in Indonesia, Bangkok in Thailand, Macau, and Myanmar.

He said that it will come depending on the outcome of the Davao-KL flights.

Last July 21, Fernandes said Davao-KL flights will start on December 21 will be serviced by one aircraft, but there are plans to deploy more planes should passenger demand pick up.