AirAsia Philippines expands commercial flights, restarts Hong Kong route

The World’s Best low-cost airline reassures guests of its intensified multi-layered approaches to safety and adherence to health protocols

AirAsia Philippines flew more than 100 OFWs in its first Hong Kong-Manila flight, ending its two-year hiatus from international commercial air transport

Manila, 06 December 2021 – AirAsia Philippines resumes on Sunday its Manila-Hong Kong route after almost two years of flight suspension due to the ongoing global health crisis.

The bi-weekly flights to Hong Kong were officially commenced on 05 December with flight Z2 1264 departing NAIA Terminal 3 at 8:35 a.m. The return flight to Manila arrived in the same terminal at 2:00 p.m. 103 passengers were aboard the plane bound for Manila from Hong Kong, all of which were Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). 

The resumption of the flights to Hong Kong and other international destinations like Singapore comes timely as demand for inbound flights to the Philippines is expected to rise vis-a-vis the Holiday season as the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) forecasts that 150,000 to 180,000 OFWS from the world over will be returning to the country by end-year. 

AirAsia Philippines Spokesperson Steve Dailisan said, “The pandemic has isolated the world and prohibited loved ones from seeing each other for almost two years. We at AirAsia Philippines are glad that we get to help Filipino families reunite this Christmas season. We understand and value the importance of ‘family’ in these rather bleak times. We are optimistic that despite the emergence of new COVID-19 variants, air travel will continue to grow in service of Filipinos thriving abroad as we learn more on how to safely and effectively live in our constantly changing reality.” 

The resumption of AirAsia Philippines’ commercial flights is in service of Overseas Filipino Workers who are eager to come home in time for the holidays. The world’s best low-cost airline prepared virtual greetings for arriving passengers to make their trip home more special

AirAsia Philippines allayed concerns surrounding the emergence of the Omicron COVID-19 variant, reassuring guests that stringent multi-layered safety protocols are in place.  Earlier reports confirmed there were three Omicron variant cases in Hong Kong which have already been contained. 

All AirAsia aircraft are equipped with High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters which kill up to 99.9 percent of viruses including COVID-19.  Additionally, the entire AirAsia flying crew is 100 percent fully vaccinated against the virus while also being equipped with the necessary safety and protection gear.  A deep and thorough cleaning and sanitation is also done after each flight. 

AirAsia Philippines implements a multi-layered safety protocol that includes the HEPA filters in all of its aircraft, full vaccination and safety gear for its crew and digitalization of multiple customer touchpoints.

To further protect the country against the possible entry of the Omicron variant, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) through Resolution 152, required all fully vaccinated guests arriving in Manila from green and yellow list countries including Hong Kong to submit a negative RT-PCR test taken at least 72 hours before their departure.  They are then endorsed to a quarantine hotel and must take another RT-PCR test on their fifth day.  If the test returns negative, they will be allowed to continue their self-quarantine at home for 14 days.  

Guests who fail to present a negative RT-PCR test will be required to stay in a quarantine hotel and take their RT-PCR on the 7th day.  They will be sent home to continue their self-monitoring for 14 days.  

Partially vaccinated and unvaccinated guests meanwhile will be subjected to a 10-day quarantine with RT-PCR test on their 7th day. 

AirAsia Philippines will continue to recalibrate its intensified safety protocols as it aligns with the requirements of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) and advice of medical experts. 

For updated requirements and travel restrictions visit the airasia flysafe page. 

AirAsia Philippines flies bi-weekly Hong Kong via NAIA Terminal 3.  For booking information and other travel requirements please visit airasia flysafe page.