Tired of Metro Manila traffic? Hop on a helicopter

MANILA, Philippines — Sick of Metro Manila’s horrid traffic? Soon you can take a traffic-free route: just three minutes between Makati and Bonifacio Global City (BGC) – if you’re willing to shell out P6,900.

A pioneer helicopter ride-sharing platform is set to take off next week in the Philippines.

Tech startup Ascent and air operator INAEC Aviation Corp. launched yesterday its helicopter ride-sharing and on-demand platform in the country, which will commence operations on April 8.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said opening the country’s airspace to the new service does not mean it is giving up on solving road traffic woes.

The platform will allow passengers to fly between locations such as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, central business districts in Makati, BGC in Taguig and Quezon City, as well as regional locations in Clark and Tagaytay.

Ascent and INAEC aim to provide an alternative, safe, reliable and more convenient way of traveling in the city by air, allowing customers to avoid traffic and take control of their time.

With studies showing the massive economic impact of road congestion in the Philippines, Ascent chief executive officer Lionel Sinai-Sinelnikoff said “skipping the traffic from above is a solution.”

He said flying a helicopter could save 70 percent of one’s time, and the platform they are offering is 10 times cheaper than chartered flight.

“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. 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,” Sinai-Sinelnikoff said.

“CBDs in Metro Manila have an untapped transportation opportunity. There are a good number of helipads and helicopters with low utilization. Through the Ascent platform, we aim to connect CBDs more easily and promote the country as an ideal destination to conduct business helped by urban air mobility,” he added.

Sinai-Sinelnikoff said a flight from NAIA to Clark through the platform would cost about P25,900 per seat and will cut travel time from three hours to 30 minutes.

Its Makati to BGC route, which will reduce travel time from 30 minutes to three minutes, would cost P6,900 per seat. A NAIA to Tagaytay route costs P21,900 and will shorten travel time to 20 minutes from the usual 2.5 hours.

He said among the platform’s primary target market are those in the business community “that are seeking such kind of solutions because cost of time is very valuable for them,” as well as individuals who can afford the price range and even tourists.

Ascent’s initial helicopter fleet stands at seven, all of which will be provided by INAEC.

Ascent is hoping to make the services accessible to more customers as it plans to expand to more locations in the country such as major cities in the Visayas and Mindanao this year. It is also eyeing expansion in other Southeast Asian countries in the next years.

“Urban air mobility is what this is all about. We open up a mode of transport to the Filipinos by harnessing potential of our airspace for a swifter commute in the metro,” Transportation Undersecretary for aviation Manuel Tamayo said.