MANILA, June 4 — The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has confirmed that AirAsia Philippines has complied with the directive to settle its financial obligations during the day, subject to ongoing standard reconciliation processes.
The Philippine News Agency previously reported that it said the airline had been given until June 6 to settle its dues.
"We acknowledge and appreciate the airline’s cooperation and its commitment to addressing its obligations through constructive engagement and coordination with the Authority," the CAAP said in a statement.
Last night, it acknowledged that settling the obligations remains the most practical and preferred course of action.
"Any interruption in airline operations carries significant consequences, including economic impacts, potential employment displacement, and disruption to passenger and cargo services," the CAAP said.
The authority's remarks come after several media outlets reported that the Authority had ordered the airline to halt operations at all government-managed airports due to more than PHP270 million in unpaid fees.
In a June 2 cease-and-desist order, CAAP Director General Raul Del Rosario directed AirAsia to stop operating within its jurisdiction within three days of receiving the notice.
In turn, the AirAsia Group categorically denied the reports, dubbing them as “entirely false and do not reflect the reality of the business or operations of the airline.”
"AirAsia Group views these coordinated and sensationalised reports as part of a deliberate smear campaign that has long been occurring, aimed at undermining fair competition in the Philippine aviation sector," it said in a statement today.
The group's adviser and co-founder Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said the low-cost airline carries almost seven million passengers in the Philippines annually, making the airline deeply invested in the country.
“Looking ahead, we are incredibly invested in the development of new airport infrastructure across the country, including in Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Mactan-Cebu International Airport, which will unlock greater opportunities for growth, improve connectivity, enhance operational efficiency, and enable us to lower costs even further," he said.
Fernandes added that the group intends to deploy more aircraft in its domestic operations to enable network expansion and boost its ability to offer more competitive fares.
