AirAsia to refresh Philippine fleet with new A220s

MANILA, Philippines – AirAsia Group will modernize its Philippine fleet with new Airbus A220 jets, replacing older aircraft as the Malaysia-based budget carrier adjusts its network amid higher costs from the Middle East conflict.

At a media briefing on Monday, AirAsia Group CEO Bo Lingam said the Philippine unit would receive new A220 aircraft by the end of 2027, with deployment expected by the first quarter of 2028.

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AirAsia will source the aircraft from its $19-billion order for 150 Airbus A220-300 jets, with options for 150 more.

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AirAsia will use the order as its “next-generation” fleet platform, replacing older Airbus A320s and gradually reducing its reliance on widebody A330 aircraft.

“Philippines is one of the (markets) that has old aircraft that I’m returning this year,” Lingam said, noting that some aircraft operated by the Philippine unit are already more than 15 years old. “We are going to get the A220s end of next year, which will be deployed in the Philippines as well.”

AirAsia Philippines currently operates 15 aircraft. The airline had previously planned to expand its fleet to 21 aircraft by end-2025 and eventually to between 25 and 35 aircraft over the next five years.

Lingam said AirAsia Philippines will also receive additional A320 aircraft.

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He said the Philippine operation will rely on A220s and A321neo aircraft following the fleet renewal, as the group positions them as the backbone of its medium-haul network.

Route cuts

The fleet additions come as AirAsia Group grapples with higher fuel costs from the Middle East conflict, prompting a network-wide “route optimization” program, Lingam said.

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In the Philippines, AirAsia suspended its Manila–Hong Kong route in May and its Manila–Tokyo and Cebu–Davao services staring July 1. It will also suspend Manila–Roxas flights on July 1 and discontinue its Manila–Puerto Princesa and Manila–Tagbilaran routes on Oct. 1.

Lingam said the suspensions would be temporary, as the recalibrated network strategy is finalized within two to three months.

“Not all routes will be reinstated, but most of them will be (brought back) by the end of August or early September,” he said.

AirAsia Philippines President Anna Victoria Lu said the airline was targeting a second-half 2026 recovery after higher fuel prices, a weaker peso and softer travel demand weighed on operations.

Lu also said the carrier would revisit its growth targets after previously aiming to carry about 7 million passengers annually.

In 2025, AirAsia Philippines carried 4.6 million domestic passengers and 1.03 million international passengers. The airline said passenger traffic still grew 14 percent in the first quarter.

For AirAsia Group, Lingam said AirAsia Group remains on track of its long-term goal of carrying 1 billion passengers by end-2027.

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“If I can bring it earlier, that will be good,” he said. /pai INQ