Airphil Express Hits Record Sales, Continues Aggressive Network Expansion
Continuing their onslaught on the budget air travel market, Airphil Express announced today that their September and October performance has been the highest in the company's history.
As their latest milestone of this growth spurt, the fast growing airline marked its maiden flight October 27 to its first international destination, Singapore.
Airphil Express Vice President for Marketing and Media Maria Java stated that “Ever since our rebirth on March 28 of this year, Airphil Express has focused on expanding its route offerings and our service quality. With the introduction of our first regional flights to Singapore, the company has exceeded its revenue expectations for September and October. With the growth momentum, our forward booking are very strong and we expect to close the year with compelling numbers.”
Airphil Express inaugurated its first international route on its maiden flight that left NAIA Terminal 3 at 4pm and landed in Singapore's Changi Airport premier Terminal 2. Unlike other budget airlines that operate out of Changi's budget terminal, Airphil Express differentiates itself as the only Philippine budget airline that provides low cost fares with a premium travel experience. Changi Terminal 2 allows APX passengers to shop duty free extensively and avail of more efficient immigration and baggage handling services.
Before its rebranding into a full fledged low cost carrier, Airphil Express had little differentiating qualities in its flight offerings. Now with its new look, new management and a strong bias for customer benefit, the airline is now touted as the country's fastest growing low-cost carrier and a strong contender in the regional market.
In the past month alone, APX received its first two of four brand new Airbus A320 aircraft and promptly launched additional flights to Cebu and Davao and opened new routes to Legazpi and Tagbilaran direct from Manila using the new aircraft.
“Our investors are very confident in the momentum of the airline. In fact, in our last board meeting, we confirmed commitments for investments from the Lucio Tan group amounting to some $250 Million dollars to be poured into the acquisition of up to 20 more aircraft to service both domestic and the expanding international operations. Improvements in technology and operational systems will also see serious fiscal investment. ” Java said.
“Our strength lies in growing our community markets, both domestically as well as regionally. In Singapore, we recently supported our expat Filipino community there at the 3rd Philippine Country Fair. Our rock bottom rate of SGD 30 one way was a hit among the Filipino professionals in that market.” added Java.
Last week, APX also launched expansion of its Bombardier Q400 serviced routes out of their Cebu headquarters. New flights from Cebu to Catarman, Naga and Ozamis were launched simultaneously last October 21.
As its third and fourth Airbus A320 aircraft are delivered end of November, APX immediately puts the birds to use for its direct flights out of Singapore to Cebu, where tourists can jump off directly to vacation spots such as Boracay, Surigao and other destinations serviced by APX's Cebu inter-island network.
Airphil Express flies Cebu to Singapore
APX gets its route network expansion underway in the addition of CEBU-SINGAPORE-CEBU flight starting December 01, 2010 operated by its 177-seater Airbus A320 aircraft.
The Cebu-Singapore service is scheduled to operate 7x weekly and will depart Cebu at 0800H,arriving in Singapore at 1135H. Flight from Singapore will then leave at 1225H and arrive in Cebu at 1555H.
Airphil Express is still the only low cost airline to provide 15kgs FREE baggage allowance. For more information, call Airphil Express Reservations in Manila at (02) 855-9000 or visit www.airphilexpress.com.
Airphil Express flies to 24 domestic destinations from Manila and Cebu. Direct flights from Manila are to Bacolod, Busuanga, Cagayan De Oro, Calbayog, Catarman, Boracay (Caticlan and Kalibo), Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legazpi, Masbate, Naga, Ormoc, Puerto Princesa, San Jose, Surigao, Tagbilaran and Tuguegarao. The Cebu hub caters to flights to Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Boracay (Caticlan), Iloilo and Tacloban. It also flies direct from Busuanga to Puerto Princesa.
