ONLINE travel platform AirAsia MOVE (MOVE) has secured accreditation from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in the Philippines, allowing the travel website to deepen its airline partnerships and expand flight options for travelers flying to and from the country.
MOVE said on Wednesday that around 30 international airlines serving Philippine routes had granted it ticketing authority within the first few weeks of securing the accreditation.MOVE currently offers flight bookings with more than 700 airlines covering about 3,000 destinations worldwide. It has direct partnerships with global carriers including Etihad Airways, ANA and VietJet.It also offers hotel bookings covering more than 1 million hotel properties, as well as ticket purchases to live events, attractions and other travel-related services.The company said the accreditation could also create more opportunities for airlines, travel businesses and tourism stakeholders to reach travelers through expanded digital distribution and online booking.Malou Japson, country head for MOVE Philippines, said growing relationships with aviation and tourism organizations would allow the company to participate more actively in the Philippine travel industry.“Travel is an ecosystem, and no single player can thrive in isolation,” she said. “Ultimately, our goal is not simply to facilitate travel, but to help build stronger connections across the entire travel ecosystem.”MOVE’s IATA accreditation follows its membership earlier this year with the Philippine Travel Agencies Association and Philippine Tour Operators Association.The company has also been working with the Department of Tourism through the “Discover More to Love” campaign, which seeks to promote domestic tourism.MOVE’s operations in the Philippines has been hit with challenges, including a P6-million fine last year over allegedly overpriced tickets. In July, Cebu Pacific won a Malaysian court order barring the platform from selling the budget carrier’s flights without authorization.
