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Next Don Mueang? AirAsia PH CEO eyes Clark as low-cost carrier hub

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Karen Flores Layno, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/life/04/23/airasia-042318.jpg"/><figcaption>Captain Dexter Comendador, CEO of AirAsia Philippines, exchanges tokens with Kajorndet Apichartrakul, director of Tourism Authority of Thailand. Handout</figcaption></figure></div>PATTAYA, Thailand – AirAsia Philippines CEO Dexter Comendador wants to follow in the footsteps of Tassapon Bijleveld, his counterpart in Thailand.The veteran Filipino pilot has been in talks with government to turn Clark into the Philippines’ next low-cost carrier (LCC) hub, similar to what Bijleveld did with Don Mueang airport in Bangkok.“We will keep the business in Manila, but we will establish Clark as the LCC hub of the Philippines,” Comendador said. “Iyan ang sinasabi ko kay Tony (Fernandes, founder and CEO of AirAsia group). What Tassapon did with Don Mueang, we will do in Clark.”“Don Mueang used to be the international airport [of Thailand], and then they prepared Suvarnabhumi [airport]. Now, everyone moved to Suvarnabhumi, at isasara dapat nila ‘yung Don Mueang. But Tassapon dedided to develop Don Mueang as the LCC hub of Thailand,” he added. “Iyan ang gusto kong mangyari sa Pilipinas, tutal ‘yun din naman ang direksyon ni Presidente (Rodrigo Duterte) at ni (Transportation) Secretary (Arthur) Tugade. And besides, Manila is really crowded. Just a single plane na dumating, wala na akong paradahan.”<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/life/04/23/18/airasia-launches-manila-bangkok-flights">READ: AirAsia launches Manila-Bangkok flights</a></li></ul>It was previously reported that the government is targeting to open the new Clark airport terminal in <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/business/11/03/16/govt-targets-2019-opening-for-new-clark-airport-terminal" target="_blank">2019.</a>But Comendador is eyeing the old terminal in Clark, saying the government has so far agreed to concessions such as free use of check-in counters and lower travel tax.He explained: “The terminal that Clark is building is a legacy terminal… Iyong old terminal, ‘yung existing, gusto nila sanang alisin ‘yun eh. So sabi namin, huwag niyong sirain, we’ll just make it an LCC terminal… We’ve been meeting with government trying to explain to them the difference between a legacy terminal and a low-cost carrier terminal. So now, naiintindihan na nila. Kapag pumasok ‘yung low-cost carrier passenger sa isang terminal, you cannot segregate the payment… It does not work that way, magkakagulo. So kaya kami, we always espouse na let’s have a low-cost terminal para ‘yung fees doon mas mababa.”“Kasi our passengers are very price-sensitive. A P100 difference lang, di na lilipad ‘yan or &#x27;di na sasakay sa ‘yo. Kaya kami, we try to keep our costs low,” Comendador continued. “And to do that, we ask for a lot of concessions from government… It’s not our expense, but we try to have the travel tax removed. They’re willing to take away the travel tax, at least doon sa Clark.”Early this year, AirAsia Philippines introduced flights from Clark to Iloilo, Tacloban, and Puerto Princesa. The budget airline is set to launch a Clark-Taipei route this July. Aside from Clark, Comendador is also looking at Bohol as an LCC hub so they can connect AirAsia international flights to Visayas.

AirAsia Philippines CEO Dexter Comendador wants to follow in the footsteps of Tassapon Bijleveld, his counterpart in Thailand.

AirAsia Philippines CEO Dexter Comendador wants to follow in the footsteps of Tassapon Bijleveld, his counterpart in Thailand.

Next Don Mueang? AirAsia PH CEO eyes Clark as low-cost carrier hub

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Next Don Mueang? AirAsia PH CEO eyes Clark as low-cost carrier hub

Karen Flores Layno,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 13, 2018 09:15 PM PHT

Read More:

AirAsia

travel

Thailand

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Dexter Comendador

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