Almaty, Kazakhstan, is not a typical holiday destination for Filipino travelers. Yet, according to AirAsia Philippines passenger data, the number of people flying from Manila to Almaty through the airline’s Fly-Thru service has exploded by a staggering 1,000% between 2025 and 2026. This remarkable surge is more than a quirky statistic; it’s the leading edge of a change in Filipino travel habits, with more people choosing destinations far beyond the usual beach resorts and city breaks.
While Almaty’s growth is the most dramatic, it’s part of a trend of Filipinos traveling to new international destinations. The airline’s Fly-Thru network, which allows passengers to book a single ticket for connecting flights through major hubs, is enabling this exploration. Other routes also posted notable growth, including Phnom Penh, Cambodia, which saw a 705% increase, Manila–Penang, Malaysia, by 50%, and New Delhi, India, by 43%. These figures, compiled from AirAsia’s own passenger flown data, point to a clear opportunity and a changing appetite for adventure among Filipino travelers.
A Thousand Percent and the Taste for Adventure
What’s driving this sudden fascination with Almaty? It’s a question of changing travel preferences, not just geography. “It’s exciting to see more Filipinos becoming open to exploring destinations they may not have considered before,” said Anna Victoria Lu, President and General Manager of AirAsia Philippines. Lu noted the strong growth in Almaty is a prime example of this shift. “Travel is not just about visiting the usual holiday spots anymore, it’s about discovering new places, experiencing different cultures, and making more meaningful memories.”
The traditional Undas break, a time for family and remembrance, is increasingly being used by some for international getaways. While domestic travel still dominates for the period, international flight bookings for Undas rose from 14% in 2025 to 17% in 2026. The share of international hotel bookings more than doubled, jumping from 18% to 38%, signaling a clear, albeit smaller, but rapidly growing segment of travelers looking to go abroad during this long holiday.
The Fly-Thru Network: Connecting the Dots
The infrastructure enabling this travel boom is AirAsia’s Fly-Thru service. It’s a simple but powerful concept: passengers book one ticket from a Philippine hub like Manila or Cebu and are connected through a major transit point to their final destination. This eliminates the hassle and often higher cost of booking separate connecting flights. AirAsia uses Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia, and Bangkok in Thailand as the primary hubs for its network, opening up a world of possibilities from two key departure cities.
From Manila, the list of accessible destinations reads like a globetrotter’s dream: from the peaks of Almaty to the temples of Jaipur and New Delhi in India, the cultural melting pot of Penang in Malaysia, the idyllic beaches of the Maldives and Phuket, and the bustling streets of Chiang Mai, Shenzhen, Yangon, and Colombo, Sri Lanka. The network is just as strong from Cebu, connecting travelers to Penang, Bali, Siem Reap, Hanoi, Da Nang, Singapore, Phuket, Jakarta, and Phnom Penh.
Where the Numbers Meet the Culture
The data reveals a fascinating dichotomy. While the overall growth in international travel is undeniable, domestic travel remains the undisputed champion, especially for holidays like Undas. Domestic flights still accounted for 83% of all bookings for the 2026 period, a slight dip from 86% in 2025. Boracay, Cebu, and Manila consistently rank as top domestic destinations, showing a strong preference for exploring the archipelago itself.
Yet, the growth numbers for international routes are hard to ignore. The rise in international bookings from 14% to 17% for flights and 18% to 38% for hotels shows a segment of the population willing to invest more in overseas experiences.
A Low Fare for a Far-Flung Adventure
To capitalize on this emerging trend, AirAsia is launching its biggest Fly-Thru sale. For a limited time only, running until 9 November 2026, the airline is offering fares to destinations beyond Asia for as low as PHP 7,699. This strategy is designed to make international travel more accessible to a wider audience of Filipino travelers.
As Lu stated, the goal is to “give more Filipinos the opportunity to go further and discover more at low fares without the hassle of booking separate flights.” The combination of a powerful network, a demonstrated shift in traveler appetite, and a compelling promotional offer creates a perfect storm for growth.
