GrabTaxi takes off with new helicopter service

MANILA, Philippines - Taxi hailing app GrabTaxi is expanding its offerings with the launch of an air taxi service through GrabHeli amid worsening traffic conditions in Metro Manila.

Khriztina Lim, country marketing head at GrabTaxi Philippines said yesterday the Philippines is the first country in Southeast Asia to offer the GrabHeli service.

“We will start with offering an aerial tour in Manila but eventually, within the year, we will offer the air taxi service,” she said.

The service is being launched as commuters are looking for new transport options to escape the misery brought by Metro Manila’s congested roads.

Lim said the service is also being made available to provide Filipinos a pre-booking helicopter experience.

“Riding a helicopter is expensive. You need P96,000 for one hour. We will eventually launch air taxi at a very affordable price,” she said.

The GrabHeli service is made possible via a partnership between GrabTaxi and PhilJets Group.

PhilJets business development manager Michiko Soriano said PhilJets has dedicated two helicopters for the partnership with GrabTaxi.

The helicopters have rights to four fixed helipads located in Makati, Ortigas, Bonifacio Global City (BGC) and Pasay.

Any passenger registered with GrabPay or the credit or debit card payment option for GrabCar can avail of the 10-minute GrabHeli aerial tour of Makati, BGC and Pasay for P3,888.

The GrabHeli will be available through the GrabTaxi app with fixed flight schedules during Fridays and Saturdays at 4 p.m.

For the air taxi service, Lim said the plan is to make it available to commuters at P3,888 per passenger or even lower.

She also said the air taxi service would likely be available on manic Mondays and payday Fridays since these are the days when the traffic situation is at its worst.

Founded in 2012, the GrabTaxi app aims to enable individuals to commute safely everyday via their preferred mode of transport.