AirAsia, Muslim-friendly airline via halal label

With the Department of Tourism (DoT), AirAsia Philippines has taken great strides in positioning the Philippines as a friendly and easily accessible tourism destination for Muslims.

AirAsia Philippines has been acknowledged by DoT as the first airline that caters to Muslims by providing halal-certified meal options on all domestic and international flights.

AirAsia’s commitment to offering an inclusive travel experience for all passengers is demonstrated by this accomplishment, which also helps the DoT’s objective of increasing Muslim tourist arrivals in the Philippines.

With over 15 million Muslims living in the country, AirAsia recognizes how important it is to serve this significant population.

“AirAsia PH takes pride in removing obstacles to travel and expanding the accessibility of our services, particularly for our Muslim customers. We have a lot of optimism. We will increase the size, strength, and success of this collaboration. Since airlines are at the forefront of the traveler trip, we recognize the critical role they play in promoting Halal. We therefore keep being flexible and improving our services to make sure that everyone who comes to our stunning nation feels at home,” AirAsia PH CEO Ricky Isla stated.

New menus launched

As the airline’s in-flight food and beverage brand, Santan launches a new menu on 16 January, AirAsia PH guests have something special to look forward to.

Now, passengers can have the tasty, halal-certified Beef Rendang with Chicken Pastil for only P220 while on board.

Following the airline’s collaboration with the Universal Islamic Center (UIC) during the halal-Friendly Culinary Cup, which took place in Davao in August 2024, this meal was created with inspiration from the diverse culinary traditions of the 11 tribes in the Davao Region.

AirAsia PH stated that they intend to strengthen domestic routes by increasing the frequency of flights to places like Cebu, Caticlan and Cagayan de Oro in order to support the Department of Tourism in its fight to increase tourist earnings in the Philippines.

“The memorandum we signed is a testament to the power of collaboration, reflecting our shared aspiration for an inclusive and globally competitive Philippine tourism industry. As part of our strategy to become a Muslim-friendly tourism destination, we have made sure that the touch points of Muslim tourists in the country are properly addressed. We anticipate that the Santan menu will add even more dishes that are inclusive to our communities in the country, bringing more delight to our travelers,” Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said.

The 535,000 meals that Santan supplied in 2024 — a notable rise from 480,000 in 2023 — reflected the increasing demand for its menu choices.

Apart from the traditional Filipino cuisines like Chicken Inasal, which are made possible through a partnership with JT’s Manukan, Santan’s diverse menu already includes halal-certified favorites like Chicken Rice and Nasi Lemak. According to strict halal standards, all meals are prepared to meet the dietary requirements of Muslim passengers and offer delicious options for all of its guests.