Pacific Pearl Airways flies back to Subic

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—Pacific Pearl Airways (PPA), a local budget airline offering domestic and foreign chartered flights, will be bringing back its plan to set up a hub here starting December with committed investments of US$10 million.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) administrator Armand Arreza and PPA president Kristoffer Jimenez signed the memorandum of agreement last week for the resumption of foreign and domestic flights at the Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA).

Jimenez said the airline will start with two advanced Boeing 737-200 jet planes capable of seating 114 passengers for international flights, and turboprop aircraft for initial domestic flights.

Arreza said that being an international airport, the SBIA can host just about any kind of air transport requirements, singling out Subic’s cargo-sorting capability as its edge over other airports in the country today.

“We urge cargo airliners to start making their inquiries here at the SBIA this early, and see for themselves its complete cargo-sorting facility, and the Freeport advantages that made FedEx’s operation here successful,” said Arreza.

Arreza also said he expects more flights to and from Subic in the near future, as the SBMA aggressively promotes business and tourism establishments here.

“What we have witnessed now proves that there’s still life after FedEx,” said Arreza, referring to the US courier giant which used this free port as its Asia-Pacific hub. Last February, FedEx transferred to China, where domestic cargo volume alone exceeds that of Asia.

Jimenez said that local flights would be Boracay, Bohol, Cebu, and Davao while South Korea, Middle East and Hong Kong are the destinations abroad.

In July 2007, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself led the launching ceremony of the chartered flights of Pacific Pearl Airways for both domestic and foreign routes. Barely a month after the inaugural flight, its operation here was halted as Pacific Pearl diverted its business to set up instead an aviation school in Quezon City and Parañaque City.

Jimenez said that local flight destinations will expand as PPA establishes its presence in the local airline industry.

He added that PPA will be offering competitive rates ‘without sacrificing quality service’ which he said would be an advantage for the company as tax incentives and other perks are being offered in this free port.

Jimenez also said that PPA will eliminate stop-over hassles with its direct flights, enabling passengers to gain more savings and more quality holidays as it significantly cuts travel lag time.

“A lot of tourists come here—foreigners and locals alike. It is also a booming place in terms of businesses,” said Jimenez, who also called on interested applicants for pilots, cabin crew, and maintenance personnel to inquire at PPA’s office at the SBIA here.

Pearl Pacific Airways was organized in September 2006 and is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, with necessary permits from the Philippine Civil Aeronautics Board and the Air Transportation Office. Cecille Garcia