AirAsia Launches ‘To the Philippines with Love

November 17, 2025

To the Philippines with Love: AirAsia pledges support and stands with Cebu on the road to recovery and resilience

CEBU, 15 November 2025 – In the spirit of ASEAN solidarity and in support of regional resilience, AirAsia has launched “To the Philippines with Love” to aid recovery efforts following recent natural disasters, including the earthquake that struck Cebu in September and Typhoon Tino (Kalmaegi), which severely affected the region.

In playing its part, AirAsia will donate PHP15 for every seat sold from 15 November 2025 to 14 January 2026 to support local typhoon relief and recovery programmes.

Tony Fernandes, Capital A CEO and Advisor at AirAsia Aviation Group, said:
“Connectivity has always been at the heart of what we do, and it goes beyond flights or routes. As one ASEAN family, in times like these, uniting to help one another is not just the right thing to do — it is who we are. Our hearts are with everyone affected in the Philippines, including our own Allstars. We hope AirAsia’s contribution can bring hope, help rebuild businesses, and enable local residents to get back on their feet.”

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The donation will be disbursed by AirAsia Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the airline group, to support relief and rebuilding projects, prioritising community infrastructure as well as training and awareness initiatives to strengthen the capacity of vulnerable communities in responding to future calamities.

Yap Mun Ching, Executive Director of AirAsia Foundation, said:
“At AirAsia Foundation, one of our main priorities is helping communities rebuild stronger after a disaster. As the focus shifts from emergency relief to recovery, we leverage our network of social enterprises and trusted partners to connect resources with communities in need, supporting them to restore homes and livelihoods and make a meaningful difference for those affected.”

The initiative was announced by AirAsia’s Group Chief Commercial Officer Amanda Woo and AirAsia Philippines CEO and President Captain Suresh Bangah in Cebu earlier today during the receiving ceremony of the inaugural Kuala Lumpur – Cebu flight. AirAsia Foundation Manager, Elaine Tan was also present together with the Bike Scouts Cebu team leads, Janreil Amistoso and Tony Galon.

Among recent recipients of the Foundation’s disaster resilience grants in 2024 is Bike Scouts, a social enterprise with more than a decade of on-ground disaster response experience across the Philippines. The organisation was supported to provide critical communication access to communities isolated by typhoons, floods, and other natural events. In 2025, AirAsia Foundation approved a grant for Arkomjogja, the implementer of previous rebuilding and resilience programmes in Indonesia, to document lessons learnt and disseminate knowledge on its community-driven post-disaster recovery model.

AirAsia Foundation has a long-standing history of leading the airline’s post-disaster initiatives in ASEAN. Since its establishment in 2012, the Foundation has raised and distributed more than USD 4 million to fund disaster responses, including Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines (2013), the Palu tsunami (2018), and the Malaysian floods (2021). The Foundation has also awarded over USD 670,000 in social enterprise grants across seven ASEAN countries, supporting ventures that address poverty alleviation, promote sustainable livelihoods, and build climate resilience.

The donation from AirAsia is in addition to the airline’s ongoing post-earthquake assistance to government partners through humanitarian flights. In coordination with authorities, AirAsia transported search-and-rescue teams from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), along with critical rescue equipment, to support emergency relief missions in Cebu.

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The pledge was announced by AirAsia Philippines CEO and President, Capt. Suresh Bangah, during the receiving ceremony of AirAsia’s inaugural Kuala Lumpur–Cebu flight, which was welcomed with a traditional water cannon salute at Mactan Cebu International Airport. The flight also marked the official launch of AirAsia’s Cebu hub, reinforcing the airline’s commitment to expanding connectivity across the Philippines and the wider ASEAN region.

The Kuala Lumpur and Macao international services are among five new routes from the Philippines that have been added to AirAsia’s expanding network, now connecting travellers to more than 160 destinations group-wide. New domestic routes from Cebu to Davao, Iloilo, and Caticlan further strengthen Cebu’s position as a strategic hub, offering guests greater flexibility and value-driven travel options.

AirAsia currently operates 202 weekly flights to 10 international destinations from the Philippines, underscoring its role as one of the country’s leading carriers in regional connectivity.