Air Juan Seaplanes Are Next Step for Philippine Aviation Industry
As an archipelago with more than 7,107 islands, float planes seem to be a natural fit for the Philippines. With countless tropical hot spots and remote communities, float planes can provide seamless access to what often seems inaccessible. With domestic air travel rising in the Philippines and demand for tourism growing, access to these smaller, remote locations is more important than ever before.
If you want a quick and seamless way to travel from point to point, float planes can take the hassle out of travel. Those that have travelled in the Philippines before know that the poor transportation infrastructure in the nation makes it no stranger to hassle. But float planes can access isolated beaches and remote communities without the need for constructing a multi-million peso runway or airport.
This mode of transportation is incredibly popular in other island nations such as the Maldives, where Maldivian Air Taxi is one of the largest seaplane operators in the world with 500 weekly flights and a fleet of twenty amphibious aircraft.
In the Philippines, travel by float plane is still in its infancy. Only one airline, Air Juan, is currently working on developing this niche mode of travel, which could easily grow to become the most popular form of air travel for business and leisure travellers. Imagine avoiding the congestion and long security lines at Ninoy Aquino International Airport as you depart a private dock in Manila Bay to arrive directly at a private dock on Boracay Island less than an hour later. Furthermore, no lengthy road transfers from Kalibo International Airport or boat rides across choppy seas from the Caticlan jetty port.
Air Juan began as a charter airline in 2012 with the vision of helping the nation progress by creating seamless access to business and leisure destinations by air. The company currently holds an Air Operator's Certificate issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity issued by the Civil Aeronautics Board.
Although the company began providing charter air transport services for business and government utilising its fleet of Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft from its bases in Manila, Palawan, and Cebu, the carrier is slowly migrating into the tourism industry offering charter flights direct to resorts in popular destinations such as Busuanga and other beach hot spots across the country.
The success of these ventures led to the establishment of a scheduled service between Busuanga and Caticlan, enabling tourists to transfer seamlessly between two of the nation's most popular tourist destinations without having to back track and transit through Manila.
According to the Air Juan website, the airline is stepping up its commitment to the development of float plane service in the Philippines with the arrival of two new Cessna Grand Caravan Seaplanes. Air Juan is the only commercial seaplane operator in the Philippines that can take travellers direct to island destinations from their private docks in Manila Bay and Boracay Island.
The private docks, which were recently constructed in Manila Bay, are an essential ingredient and form the basis of what could become the country's thriving floatplane travel industry. Float planes have the ability to unlock some of the Philippines' most beautiful and less travelled destinations. Places such as the Caramoan Islands in Camarines Sur, which are currently only accessible through lengthy boat, van, and bus rides could be accessed seamlessly on a scheduled or chartered basis with the use of float planes.
According to John Goulet, Air Juan's Director of Seaplane Operations, the company is still in the "Soft Startup" phase with not all services fully up and running. But the company is likely to expand to new destinations over time and increase scheduled service, opening new routes as demand permits.
Demand is something that can only grow as Air Juan is the only carrier in the Philippines that can remedy the head aches of most tourists and travellers in the country who wish to avoid the congestion and long travel times associated with the nation's poorly managed airports.
Air Juan can take tourists direct from their docks to various destinations throughout the Philippines, reducing travel time significantly. At the end of April, Air Juan introduced its second brand new Cessna Grand Caravan Seaplane, which will be used to increase capacity and flight frequencies.
Float plane airlines are nothing new to the aviation industry. The world's largest seaplane airline is Harbour Air, based out of Vancouver, Canada. The airline, founded in 1982, is comprised of more than 55 aircraft carrying business and leisure travellers to more than 8 destinations throughout British Columbia. The airline's most popular route carries travellers on a 35 minute journey between Vancouver and Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, located on Vancouver Island with several flights daily.
The Philippines is not the only nation interested in using float planes to expand travel and tourism within the country. China is also interested in developing a float plane network of its own. Harbour Air of Canada recently entered into a strategic partnership with Zongshen Industrial Group to bring the Canadian airline's popular commuter float plane service to China.
Harbour Air Group will be providing professional consulting services to Zongshen's Tianchen General Aviation Company, which plans to become the first airline in China to provide float-plane service to the country's major cities. Harbour Air will also be lending its name to the new carrier, which will be known as Harbour Air China. It is believed that the first of eight routes will begin as early as 2016. Harbour Air will also assist in the training of Chinese pilots in the art of flying float planes. Harbour Air currently employs more than 80 Canadian pilots, which are often deployed on short-term contracts to help develop float plane operations in other countries.
Like the Philippines, China still has many cities and tourist destinations that are inaccessible by air in spite of massive growth and rising economic prosperity. With several of these destinations accessible by water and lacking in airport infrastructure, there is the potential to expand the aviation industry through seaplane-based commuter service.
Seaplanes can almost instantaneously create seamless access to a number of destinations with water access as no airport infrastructure is necessary. It is a natural fit as most Philippine communities have access to water and docks are relatively easy to construct. This is an instant solution to some of the transportation problems that are faced in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, Reignwood Aviation Group of Beijing recently agreed to purchase fifty Twin Otter amphibious aircraft, manufactured by Victoria, Canada based Viking Air. The starting price for the Series 400 Twin Otter, which can seat up to 19 passengers, is $7 million.
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| "Manila Bay Float Plane Base" Image Source: Air Juan |
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| Image Source: Impressions Photography |
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| Image Source: Flick River |
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| "Boracay Float Plane Base" Image Source: Air Juan |
Although the company began providing charter air transport services for business and government utilising its fleet of Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft from its bases in Manila, Palawan, and Cebu, the carrier is slowly migrating into the tourism industry offering charter flights direct to resorts in popular destinations such as Busuanga and other beach hot spots across the country.
The success of these ventures led to the establishment of a scheduled service between Busuanga and Caticlan, enabling tourists to transfer seamlessly between two of the nation's most popular tourist destinations without having to back track and transit through Manila.
According to the Air Juan website, the airline is stepping up its commitment to the development of float plane service in the Philippines with the arrival of two new Cessna Grand Caravan Seaplanes. Air Juan is the only commercial seaplane operator in the Philippines that can take travellers direct to island destinations from their private docks in Manila Bay and Boracay Island.
The private docks, which were recently constructed in Manila Bay, are an essential ingredient and form the basis of what could become the country's thriving floatplane travel industry. Float planes have the ability to unlock some of the Philippines' most beautiful and less travelled destinations. Places such as the Caramoan Islands in Camarines Sur, which are currently only accessible through lengthy boat, van, and bus rides could be accessed seamlessly on a scheduled or chartered basis with the use of float planes.
According to John Goulet, Air Juan's Director of Seaplane Operations, the company is still in the "Soft Startup" phase with not all services fully up and running. But the company is likely to expand to new destinations over time and increase scheduled service, opening new routes as demand permits.
Demand is something that can only grow as Air Juan is the only carrier in the Philippines that can remedy the head aches of most tourists and travellers in the country who wish to avoid the congestion and long travel times associated with the nation's poorly managed airports.
Air Juan can take tourists direct from their docks to various destinations throughout the Philippines, reducing travel time significantly. At the end of April, Air Juan introduced its second brand new Cessna Grand Caravan Seaplane, which will be used to increase capacity and flight frequencies.
Float plane airlines are nothing new to the aviation industry. The world's largest seaplane airline is Harbour Air, based out of Vancouver, Canada. The airline, founded in 1982, is comprised of more than 55 aircraft carrying business and leisure travellers to more than 8 destinations throughout British Columbia. The airline's most popular route carries travellers on a 35 minute journey between Vancouver and Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, located on Vancouver Island with several flights daily.
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| Image Source: Harbour Air |
Harbour Air Group will be providing professional consulting services to Zongshen's Tianchen General Aviation Company, which plans to become the first airline in China to provide float-plane service to the country's major cities. Harbour Air will also be lending its name to the new carrier, which will be known as Harbour Air China. It is believed that the first of eight routes will begin as early as 2016. Harbour Air will also assist in the training of Chinese pilots in the art of flying float planes. Harbour Air currently employs more than 80 Canadian pilots, which are often deployed on short-term contracts to help develop float plane operations in other countries.
Like the Philippines, China still has many cities and tourist destinations that are inaccessible by air in spite of massive growth and rising economic prosperity. With several of these destinations accessible by water and lacking in airport infrastructure, there is the potential to expand the aviation industry through seaplane-based commuter service.
Seaplanes can almost instantaneously create seamless access to a number of destinations with water access as no airport infrastructure is necessary. It is a natural fit as most Philippine communities have access to water and docks are relatively easy to construct. This is an instant solution to some of the transportation problems that are faced in the Philippines.
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| Image Source: Viking Air |
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