Island hopping in style with Skyjet

MANILA, Philippines - Skyjet, Manila’s first boutique airline, is a newcomer to the aviation industry. The company started in December 2012 as a charter airline serving the island of Batanes, says newly-appointed Skyjet Airlines president Dino Reyes-Chua, who took over the company this year.

By the end of 2013, the company expanded to launch commercial flights to Batanes, Coron, Boracay, and Baler.

“We serve the island destinations that bigger airlines cannot reach,” says Chua. He explains, most island airports have shorter runways which cannot accommodate large aircrafts.

“Our aircraft is a jet aircraft. It’s an 80-seater. The specialty of this aircraft is landing on short runways,” says Chua. In fact, he adds, the aircraft is used by the British royal family as well as many dignitaries around the world. “It is one of the safest jets in the world,” Chua says.

Aside from its specialized island destinations, Skyjet is also innovating in the industry by introducing the concept of a boutique airline.

“Many airlines are positioning themselves as budget or low cost airlines,” says Chua. “Skyjet is Manila’s first boutique airline. This means we’re not low cost in terms of service, but we offer affordable rates.”

Unlike most domestic flights, check-in baggage allowance and travel insurance are already part of Skyjet’s ticket cost. Meals are also served on board with no extra charge. “We serve Café France gourmet sandwiches and pastries and Evian water,” says Chua. The craft is also more spacious than other models and offers more legroom. Skyjet is based in the Manila Domestic Airport, NAIA 4. “Skyjet is bringing the frills back to flying,” Chua says.

Chua explains that the ideal size of the plane – small enough to keep operating costs low but big enough to accommodate 80 passengers – is what allows the company to offer affordable rates without having to skimp on amenities. 

Flights to Batanes, for example, are a steal at a little more than P3,000.

The boutique concept is new to the Philippine aviation industry and it is a challenge to breakthrough the market among the bigger, more established players, Chua admits. He, however, is not new to the boutique concept.

Chua, who is also the chairman of Greenbelt Hotels International, opened his first resort in Cavite, a 20-room hotel called El Palacio. In 2012, his business expanded to Makati with One Greenbelt Hotel.

“We are a small hotel surrounded by big hotels,” says Chua, highlighting the similarity of his hotel business with Skyjet.

“We offer the same convenience and service as other hotels, but at a lower cost. I thought, if we can do it in hotels, why don’t we apply the concept to airlines?”

Chua adds, he got into the aviation industry by accident. Aside from being a businessman, Chua is active in public service. He was the youngest vice mayor of his town in Cavite from 2004 to 2010, and is now a provincial board member of the province in which his committee is, fittingly, tourism.

As a public servant, Chua was involved in organizing relief operations after typhoon Yolanda hit the country.

“Around November, I organized relief operations to Tacloban and Coron,” he shares. Since traveling and shipping goods to these areas was difficult, he contacted an old friend who he knew owned charter planes. “I found out his license is not only for charter, but for a commercial airline as well. After our first meetings, I approached him with the idea of starting an airline,” says Chua. From there, Skyjet took flight.

“There are a lot of destinations in our country that need to be developed. One of the keys to developing a destination is transportation,” says Chua. “Many airports now are not open or need renovation, thus tourists cannot go there.” He hopes to make these destinations more accessible and in turn boost tourism.

Skyjet will soon be launching flights to Vigan, Baguio, and Camarines Sur.

“It will be great for business travelers to reach Baguio in just a few minutes instead of traveling for about five hours on the road.”

Trips to Caramoan are also more convenient with Skyjet’s Camarines Sur flight. Travelers no longer have to take a 10 hour ride to the province.

“We are trying to bring the destination closer to the people,” says Chua. He adds, trips to Siargao and hopefully El Nido are also in the works.

By making air travel more convenient and at the same time more comfortable, Skyjet invites travelers to explore the undiscovered island destinations of the Philippines in style.

For more information, call 863-1333, 0917-8631333, 0908-8631333, or visit www.skyjetair.com.