By Emmie V. Abadilla Tech startup Ascent, in partnership with the Lopezes’ INAEC Aviation Corp. (INAEC), has launched the country’s first helicopter ride-sharing service enabling workers and tourists to commute by chopper within the metropolis. Passengers can buy their seat at a fingertip and fly between locations such as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, central business districts (CBDs) in Makati, Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig, and Quezon City, as well as regional locations in Clark and Tagaytay. The Ascent helicopter commute costs around P7,000, exclusive of Value Added Tax, per passenger, for a three-minute ride from Makati to BGC, to over P20,000 for rides to Clark and Tagaytay, versus the average cost of P100,000 for a chartered helicopter ride. Ascent and INAEC aim to provide an alternative safe and more convenient way of travelling in the city by air, which allows customers to avoid traffic, take control of their time, and utilize it to seize more business opportunities as well as for personal purposes. “Despite being one of the fastest growing business hubs in Southeast Asia, Manila’s traffic situation is also one of the most challenging in the region,” said Ascent Chief Executive Officer Lionel Sinai-Sinelnikoff. “With the launch of Ascent in the Philippines, we hope to provide a solution that is highly relevant to the current times’ economic and productivity pitfalls caused by congested roads,” he said. In providing access to a more seamless and cost-efficient travelling experience for commuters, Ascent also offers services such as luggage transport, on-ground guest assistance, airport transfers via helicopter, shuttle services to dedicated heliports, and corporate packages.