The Senate Public Services committee will recommend to the Senate floor the grant of another 25-year franchise for Air Philippines Corporation, the country’s largest domestic airline.
The decision by Senator Grace Poe, committee chairwoman, followed a public hearing on several franchise applications by telecommunications and broadcast services amid the COVID-19 pandemic and mobility restrictions.
Benjamin Sam, Air Philippines President and Chief Operating Officer (CEO), told Poe that it is the first rime that his company filed for another franchise grant as its 25-year-franchise is set to expire next year.
Sam said his company captures a market share 24 percent and that in 2021, the firm logged seven million passengers and flew to 32 destinations that includes Clark, Manila, Kalibo and Davao and some cities in China and Hong Kong.
Aside from transporting vaccines and goods, Sam said Air Philippines also transported hundreds of thousands of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
Sam said that his firm has 770 employees and supported 1,600 workers allied to the industry. It, however, has laid off 32 percent of its employees.
Asked by Poe about its financial status, Sam said Air Philippines is still in the black despite a very small income.
Queried how the airline could clean its aircraft during turnarounds because of feared COVID-29 transmissions, Sam said the airline is cleaned in 15 minutes by its service providers at stations
From the beginning according to Sam, Air Philippines has been compliant with health protocols.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said Air Philippines has been complaint with regulations while the Department of Transportation (DoTr) has given the firm a certificate of convenience.
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