Seair Plans International Routes For Next Quarter

After restoring its boutique airline service to Philippine skies earlier this month, Seair International is already planning to enter the international market as early as next quarter as it expands its fleet through lease arrangements.

Copyright Photo: D.Wilson/PFN

According to Avelino Zapanta, President of Seair International, the carrier intends to fly to Japan, China, and Taiwan later this year. "We are in talks with airline operators for possible charters to serve Taiwan, Shanghai, and hopefully in the mid-term, operate in Japan," said Zapanta. "Our plan is to lease one or two aircraft like an Airbus A320 for the Shanghai charter."

The airline is now waiting for regulatory approval from the Civil Aeronautics Board to operate chartered flights to Taipei. According to Zapanta, the airline will need to invest nearly $100,000 per month in lease payments for an A320 aircraft.

The aggressive expansion plans comes just after Seair International restored turbo-prop service to Caticlan from Clark International Airport. The airline is also offering flights between Caticlan and Puerto Princesa three times weekly. Seair International is the sole carrier operating flights on these routes. Zapanta believes that demand will increase by as much as 400 percent when the summer season arrives. 

Zapanta also plans to feed the carrier's domestic operations by negotiating interline agreements with other Clark carriers. "We will negotiate traffic feeds to and from Qatar Airways, Asiana Airlines, Jin Air, and Dragonair," said Zapanta. "We are looking to expand interline agreements with other airlines that are interested in expanding their reach through Clark."

Seair International has been offering charter passenger flights for corporate clients to destinations including Palawan, Boracay, Vigan, and Balesin Island since 2012 when the airline discontinued its scheduled turbo-prop service after Tigerair purchased a 40 percent stake in the carrier and changed the airline's business model. After failing to turn a profit, those operations were later sold to Cebu Pacific.

The airline is currently operating its domestic flights using two 32-seat Dornier 328 turbo-prop aircraft. Seair International hopes to expand to other destinations including Masbate, Marinduque, Camiguin, Guiuan, and Bantayan.