Local boutique airline Sunlight Air announced the official relocation of its primary operations to Clark International Airport (CRK) on Monday, April 1, marked by the inaugural launch of its flight from the airport to Busuanga, Palawan.
Sunlight Air's Flight 2R601 to Busuanga took off at CRK at 2:10 p.m. after the inaugural ceremony.
Aligned with the move, the airline also added additional flights from CRK to Siargao, San Vicente, Coron (Busuanga), and Caticlan.
From CRK, Sunlight Air will now have once daily flights to and from Coron and Siargao, twice weekly flights to Boracay, and seasonal flights to San Vicente and Caticlan.
However, its Manila to Cebu to Manila flights remain offered at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 4, with plans to shift these flights to CRK soon.
Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of the launch, Sunlight Express Airways Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ryna Yvette Brito-Garcia noted CRK's "spacious and innovative approach into doing things like the self check-in kiosks and baggage drop" which aligns with "what Sunlight Air stands for."
As a hub, CRK will be the airline's new home, with majority of its flights operating out of CRK.
"The operations are more advanced and efficient here, I think, so it's really in line with Sunlight's vision," Brito-Garcia said.
She commended the inaugural launch from Clark with the support of the Luzon International Premiere Airport Development Corp. (LIPAD), stating her confidence "that this move will allow us to better deliver our trademark quality of service to many more Filipinos."
Despite concerns about limited foot traffic compared to NAIA, she remarked that the challenge for CRK and the airline is to harness the big populations of Central Luzon and Northern Metro Manila and market the use of the airport to neighboring areas.
The airline currently has three ATR 72-500 as its fleet, carrying around 70 people per flight. Brito-Garcia shared that they are aiming to grow their fleet by purchasing or leasing one or two more aircraft in the next two to three years.
As a boutique airline, Sunlight serves as air transportation to domestic destinations. However, its CEO said the airline is open to expanding to international routes namely China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.
"If not us serving international flights right away, we are looking forward to interline collaborations with international airlines," she said.
The ceremony was graced by Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President and CEO Engr. Joshua Bingcang, Department of Tourism (DOT) Region 3 Regional Director Dr. Richard Daenos, LIPAD President and CEO Noel Manankil, and Clark Development Corporation (CDC) Vice President Mina Meneses.
On April 3, Sunlight Air will launch new routes from Mactan-Cebu International Airport, with daily flights from Cebu to Coron, Siargao, and Manila. Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, and Caticlan flights will soon be launched as well.