Manila: AirAsia Philippines announced its collaboration with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to tackle the issue of bird strikes, particularly focusing on the Tacloban area. The airline highlighted a significant presence of birds around the runway and nearby areas of Tacloban airport, which prompted this partnership.

According to Philippines News Agency, CAAP has pledged to send a team of biologists and wildlife experts to work alongside local authorities to address the situation. Bird strikes, which occur when birds collide with aircraft during takeoff or landing, can lead to damage that disrupts flight schedules and impacts maintenance and operations.

AirAsia Philippines reported that from January to August, they recorded over 90 bird strike incidents at various domestic airports. While most incidents were minor and managed through safety risk management processes, six incidents resulted in damage to aircraft components. Despite these occurrences, AirAsia assured that flight safety remained uncompromised, with only temporary inspections, repairs, and brief delays.

The airline is also an active participant in the Air Carriers Association of the Philippines (ACAP) safety sub-committee. This involvement allows airlines to share data and develop strategies for managing wildlife hazards on a national level. AirAsia Philippines President Suresh Bangah emphasized the importance of collective efforts among government bodies, airport operators, and the aviation industry to maintain safe air travel.

To further mitigate risks, AirAsia has increased crew advisories at high-risk airports and strengthened coordination among its flight operations, engineering, and ground teams to ensure prompt inspections and adherence to strict reporting protocols.