Air Asia Calls for a Standardized Travel Protocol

Air Asia calls for a standardized protocol for travel to help Asia’s tourism industry recover from the pandemic. The budget airline finds the protocols in the region confusing for travelers. Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines have different protocols for travelers getting in and out of the country. According to Air Asia Group, Airlines president Bo Lingam, there is a need for a “mutually agreed global framework approach”.

He said that there is a need to revitalize international travel again. Both the travel and tourism industry should coordinate and set “one consistent set of protocols and procedures for guests”. These protocols may include both testing and vaccination.

Vaccination Forecast

40% to 50% of the region’s population is expected to be vaccinated by the third quarter of the year. Air Asia believes that there should be updated travel policies once this happens. Lingam mentioned that a good example of this is the Philippines wherein the country came up with a standardized approach for travelers. He said that the country “removed the ones that are no longer relevant”.

Air Asia struggled since the pandemic began. With travel restrictions in place, South East Asia’s second-largest budget airline reported a $238 million loss from April to June last year. Its revenue fell by as much as 96% forcing its CEO Tony Fernandez to find other ways to add investments to the struggling airline.

Air Asia announced then that “the reduction of group expenditure could not offset the decrease in revenue”.

Malaysian government loaned the airline a $242 million lifeline to allow the struggling airline to survive.

Air Asia’s ASEAN Unlimited Flights

AirAsia also came up with different ways to attract passengers back. The airline recently announced its ASEAN Unlimited. This lets passengers travel unlimited for both domestic and international (once borders reopen). Priced at RM 599 ($148), this is available to all Malaysia-based Air Asia BIG members. The ASEAN Unlimited pass is valid from March 17, 2021 to March 26, 2022. The catch is that flight bookings should be made at least 2 weeks before your planned departure.