DAVAO CITY – After six months of flying four times a week from Kuala Lumpur to Davao City, AirAsia announced on Tuesday the suspension of the direct flights effective on August 21.
“AirAsia is suspending its four (4) times weekly direct flights connecting Kuala Lumpur and Davao effective 21 August 2018 due to commercial reasons,” AirAsia said in a press statement on Tuesday.
The suspension of the Davao KL-Davao flights was first disclosed by City Tourism Officer Generose Tecson due to lack of load factor.
While she understands AirAsia’s decision, Tecson was hopeful the airline would retain weekly KL- Davao flight to allow travelers even a once-a-week direct flight.
In a statement, AirAsia, offered service recovery options for all its affected guests. In the first option, AirAsia suggested changing the flight to another departure date/time (for the same route) within 14 calendar days from the original departure date, free of charge for first change and subject to seat availability.
The second option is rerouting, in which passengers can reroute via Manila as a point to point – Kuala Lumpur – Davao to Kuala Lumpur – Manila and Manila – Davao within 14 calendar days from the original departure date, free of charge for first change and subject to seat availability; or, reroute via Cebu as a fly thru service – Kuala Lumpur – Davao to Kula Lumpur – Cebu – Davao within 14 calendar days from the original departure, free of charge for first change and subject to seat availability.
There is also the third option of credit account, where passengers retain the value of fare in a credit account for future travel with AirAsia. The online Credit Account can be redeemed within 180 calendar days from the date of issue, or obtain a full refund to the original payment method for the amount equivalent to the booking. The cash payments can be refunded via bank account.
The Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia–Davao City air connection would have further boosted the city’s tourism industry and open more opportunities for interconnection within Asia.
During its launching, Aireen Omar, AirAsia Deputy Group CEO – Digital, Transformation, Corporate Services, said AirAsia does not only connect Davao to Malaysia, but also bring Davao closer to AirAsia’s extensive network of destinations in the ASEAN, Northeast Asia, South Asia, Australasia, the Middle East and the US.
The KL-Davao route is the third AirAsia direct route from Malaysia to the Philippines after Manila and Cebu. AirAsia also connects guests to other cities in the Philippines including Clark, Manila, Caticlan, Kalibo, Tacloban, Palawan, Cebu and Tagbilaran. -Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA
