By Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat
The Senate led by Senator Grace Poe has approved on third and final reading the bill granting a 25-year air transport franchise to Magnum Air, Inc., which operates the boutique airline SkyJet Air.
With 17 affirmative votes and zero negative, the chamber approved House Bill No. 6317 last May 29, 2019, which allowed Magnum Air (SkyJet), Inc. to “establish, operate and maintain domestic and international air transport services.”
With the approval of both Congress and Senate, Skyjet President Dino Reyes Chua said they will double efforts to pursue the company vision to discover the undiscovered destinations and explore the unexplored islands here in the Philippines.
“We want to connect our islands to the whole world. We will continue to make air transport more comfortable and affordable,” said Chua.
The boutique airline has been providing transportation services in the country since 2012. It currently offers direct flights from Manila to Camiguin, Batanes and Coron and San Vicente (Palawan) soon.
The bill specified the franchise include maintenance and operation of hangars and aircraft services stations as well as other facilities.
Magnum Air also needs to get required certificates, permits and licenses from the Civil Aeronautics Board and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).
If enacted, the airline will also be mandated to “maintain scheduled and/or nonscheduled and/or Chartered air transport services to any and all points and places throughout the Philippines and between the Philippines and other countries.”