Tulabut: No-loko promo

By Noel G. Tulabut 

My Palm Notes 

 Saturday, March 31, 2012  

MORE tourist arrivals. 

This is what definitely the new Philippines’ Air Asia flights would bring to Clark (Central and Northern Luzon areas too) and other destinations where it has just opened routes to.

With its maiden Clark-Davao-Clark and Clark-Kalibo-Clark flights, Air Asia would be serving as bridge to these foremost places of interest in the other two major islands of the Philippine archipelago. Considered as a gateway to Mindanao, Davao is the largest city in the country with its bustling metropolis that is highly progressive. The Kalibo route, on the one hand, is a jump-off point to the famous Boracay beaches and other destinations in the western Visayas like Iloiolo and Bacolod.

You see, the so-called catchment area of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark has about 25 million people throughout northern and central Luzon. This means a potential travel market not only for Air Asia but also for other airlines that ply the Clark routes.

Two regional directors of the Department of Tourism – the respectable Ronnie Tiotuico of Region 3 and the youthful Art Boncato of Region 11 – agree that there will be “spikes in visitor and tourist arrivals” in their places of operations. While they are still recalculating exact projections in the visitor arrivals, they both agree that Air Asia’s flights would boost tourism and business.

Air Asia flights between Clark and Davao would make it a lot easier now for tour operators and event organizers to be planning trips, meetings, conventions as the two places (including Subic which is 30 minutes away from Clark via the SCTEX) are known for great places for both leisure and business.

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Air Asia (of Malaysia) first mounted Clark flights some seven years ago and its big boss Tony Fernandes could only be thankful for the success of his growing aviation empire.

Prior to the Philippines’ Air Asia’s inaugural and pioneering flights on March 28 where Tony personally sent off passengers from Clark, the company is successful too in their operations in Indonesia, Thailand and other regional hubs and destinations.

Its slogan “Now, Everyone Can Fly” is becoming a reality as it stages more and more budget flights to various regional destinations. With their reasonable airfare rates, I was able to bring my family (with mother-in-law and a nephew in tow) to Malaysia and Singapore in 2005 via DMIA of course. I remember writing a column piece after that trip titled “Have budget flight, will travel” which was commended by then CDC President Tony Ng.

What is more significant now with Air Asia is that its Philippine operation is anchoring their pricing schemes on a more transparent manner.

The lovely broadcaster-turned-corporate executive Maan Hontiveros, president and CEO of Philippines Air Asia, has made it a point that there will be no hidden charges in their announced airfares.

That will be a “no-loko promo” there.

It means that if they announce it for P275 each for either a Kalibo or a Davao flight, then, that should be it. No more add-ups of government taxes, surcharges and what have you.

It means not straining your eyes trying to look for the fine prints of this and that charges which is usually the case with other budget carriers.

It also means that the flying public can expect better and much affordable airfares, even as other airlines mount the same routes first pioneered by Air Asia such as the Kalibo and Davao flights.

Maan says that “transparency will be the hallmark of (their) offers and promos” while making it clear though that Philippines Air Asia is not “cheap” as it boasts too of two brand new A320s that were custom fitted with leather seats and all. Another two similar aircraft are coming direct from Airbus Industrie’s plant in Toulouse, France in time for the Puerto Princesa, Palawan flights this April.

“Low fare but high value,” she adds.

Air Asia and other airlines’ flights and the infra build-up in Clark are a result of hardwork of Clark leaders like Chichos Luciano and Ping Remollo, president of Clark International Airport Corp. and Clark Development Corp., respectively.

Air Asia flies twice daily from Clark to Kalibo (7 AM and 8:35 AM) and twice daily also to Davao, 10:10 AM and 5:50 PM, with the latter being mounted until April 20, 2012 only.

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During the launching of Air Asia’s inaugural flights last March 28, DOTC Secretary Mar Roxas witnessed the signing of agreement between Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao and the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark. It was a sister airport undertaking that is fully supported by Davao City Mayor Sarah Duterte (who flew in to Clark the day before) and Mabalacat Mayor Marino Morales.

Also present during the program were BCDA, CIAC, CDC, DOTC officials who were recognized by Sec. Roxas as part of the government team that put some action on much needed infrastructure like airport and the aviation industry.

In Davao, the Metro Angeles City Chamber of Commerce and Industry through its president Dr. Frankie Villanueva has signed a sister chamber agreement with the Davao Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

This particular pact is part of the Partnership for a Better Infrastructure by the Research, Education, and Institutional Development Foundation, Inc.

Source:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph