PETALING JAYA: AirAsia Group has described recent reports claiming that flights operated by Philippines AirAsia (Z2) have been grounded as part of a coordinated smear campaign aimed at undermining fair competition in the Philippine aviation sector.
In a statement today, the group denied the claims, saying they were “entirely false” and did not reflect the airline’s operations.
“All Z2 flights remain fully operational, with services continuing as scheduled across the network, subject to normal operational factors such as weather and other standard considerations,” the airline said.
AirAsia Group added that such narratives risked distorting market realities and ultimately harmed consumers by reducing competition and increasing fares.
Co-founder and adviser of AirAsia Group, Tony Fernandes, said the airline remained committed to affordable travel and long-term investment in the Philippines.
“AirAsia has long championed affordable travel and will continue to stand firmly against any development that harms consumers or restricts access to air connectivity,” he said.
He added that AirAsia carried almost seven million passengers annually in the Philippines and continued to invest in the country’s aviation infrastructure.
“We are deeply invested in the country, its people and its future,” he said, highlighting ongoing developments at Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Mactan-Cebu International Airport.
Fernandes also said that fleet expansion plans would support further growth and connectivity in the market, as well as enable the airline to lower its costs even further.
“As we expand our fleet and aircraft orderbook, we intend to deploy more aircraft into our operations in the Philippines,” he said.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines reportedly directed Philippines AirAsia to halt operations at all government-managed airports over 271 million pesos (RM17.5 million) in unpaid air navigation, landing, parking, and passenger service charges from 2021 to May 2026.
However, Philippines AirAsia yesterday assured passengers that operations would continue as scheduled.
