Budget carrier Air Asia is preparing to launch a Philippines subsidiary in partnership with a Manila businessman, Tonyboy Cojuangco.
Cojuangco is President Benigno Aquino’s cousin and a nephew of San Miguel chairman, Eduardo Cojuangco.
He was chairman and chief executive of Philippine Airlines during the early Cory Aquino years after his group won the bidding for the privatisation of the flag carrier.
Local media report that the new airline may commence operations in the first quarter of 2011 and will have a strong focus on air links into China.
Recently, rival Tiger Airways said it would lease two planes to South East Asian Airlines (SEAir) and form a marketing venture to expand into the Philippines.
Meanwhuile, Philippine Airlines has announced it will increase its services from Australia to the Philippines to seven times a week from March 27, 2011.
The new schedule will see the carrier operate four daytime flights as well as three new evening flights to Manila each week.
All flights will serve both Melbourne and Sydney and will be operated by Airbus 340-300 aircraft, offering both Mabuhay business class and Fiesta economy class.
