KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 8 (Bernama) -- AirAsia Inc (Philippines) yesterday received its air operator certificate (AOC) from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), accrediting it as a commercial air carrier.

"With the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Clark, Angeles, Pampanga as our hub, we look forward to revitalise tourism and significantly increase the passenger traffic at DMIA.

"In the coming weeks, AirAsia Inc will begin its domestic and international operations utilising two brand new Airbus A-320s, flown in from the Airbus factory in Toulouse, France," chief executive officer Marianne Hontiveros said in a statement today.

Hontiveros added that its all-Filipino crew began flying travellers across the country and overseas today.

AirAsia Inc is a 60-40 joint venture between Filipino investors Antonio O. Cojuangco, Michael L. Romero and Marianne B. Hontiveros, and Malaysia's AirAsia International Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AirAsia Bhd.