Philippines AirAsia (Z2, Manila Ninoy Aquino International) is planning to reopen a base at Angeles City Clark International Diosdado Macapagal International Airport early next year, the budget carrier's President and Chief Executive Officer has disclosed.

In an interview with Business World magazine, Dexter Comendador said the opening was on track for January 2018.

“Initially, we scheduled it for around November or December… But there was a delayed delivery of the Airbus [A320] units, so it was moved to January,” he said.

The AirAsia Group unit began operations from Clark in 2012 before shifting focus to Manila Ninoy Aquino International in 2013. However, given the capital gateway's worsening congestion, Clark has once more become an attractive option.

“It’s going to be a primary base for us. We were born in Clark, we will come back,” the CEO added. “It’s useless to compete with Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air here… The (Manila) runway is very limited, and it has reached its peak capacity.”

At present, Philippines AirAsia's Clark flights are limited to Davao and Kalibo. However, with the return of based aircraft to Clark, the LCC is looking to prioritize service to high-demand destinations such as Kuala Lumpur International, Hong Kong International, and Singapore Changi.

Aside from Manila and, tentatively, Clark, Philippines AirAsia also operates bases at Cebu, Davao, and Kalibo. According to Comendador, the LCC is also looking at developing New Bohol International Airport, the facility set to replace Panglao Airport as the main gateway to the province of Bohol when it opens in 2018, into an international hub. Among the markets being looked at include Malaysia, China, Japan and Hong Kong, the CEO added.