Sale of Private Air Transport Soars

16 February 2021

Private Aviation solutions company PhilJets Group reported yesterday a 20% increase in aircraft sales in the Philippines in 2020 despite the Covid19 pandemic as commercial airline operations were halted to contain spread of the virus.

The sale were mostly private small to medium sized jets and helicopters.

According to PhilJets Chairman Thierry Tea, business travelers have turned to private flights due to travel restrictions imposed on airlines resulting to limited commercial flights.

“Basically, they are business people who need to fly for business or other activities,” Mr. Tea said.

Tea disclosed that Citation jets and Bell helicopters are among the most preferred aircraft because they are “low-cost, cost-efficient, low maintenance aircraft.”

Philjet, which is also involved in private charter business and Grab Helicopter Taxi service, was likewise gravely affected by the pandemic shutdown as it lost more than 50% of its overall business in 2020, with the charter segment contributing the most due to travel restrictions.

“We lost more than 50% of our charter business,” Mr. Tea said.

“It was a very challenging time for us, especially in the first three to four months of the year. If we were only doing a charter business, probably we’re already dead or bankrupt,” Tea added.

Philjet founded in 2006, is engaged in aircraft sales, rental, management, as well as maintenance, repair and overhaul of business jets and helicopters.

PhilJets Adds H130

15 January 2016

Airbus Helicopters Philippines will deliver a new H130 light helicopter ordered by PhilJets in June this year, the company announced Wednesday.

"This latest order for one additional Airbus Helicopters H130 will help The PhilJets Group’s expansion plans", Thierry Tea, chief executive of PhilJets Group said.

The PhilJets Group includes PhilJets Aero Services Inc. and PhilJets Aero Charter Corp. PhilJets Aero Charter Corp, the group’s air transport subsidiary, will operate this aircraft.

PhilJets operates helicopter tours to and around different destinations in the Philippines,such as Tagaytay and Taal Lake, Mount Pinatubo, Palawan, Boracay, Corregidor, Manila Bay, Banaue and Sagada, as well as Bohol and Davao.

“As a fast-growing aviation start-up, our ambitious growth strategy needs to be fully supported by one of the most efficient, reliable and versatile aircraft on the market,” Tea added.

The additional rotorcraft offer to PhilJets’ charter subsidiary some increased capacity especially in catering to corporate clients, and high-end tourists as well as an efficient support for specific aerial needs and support (medical evacuation, cargo-sling transportation for mining, construction of roads, power lines and telecom towers inspection and maintenance).

PhiJets earlier teamed up with GrabTaxi to offer an air taxi service before end-2016 in a bid to provide an alternative solution to the heavy traffic in Metro Manila.

PhilJets Group operates an existing fleet of five H130’s, one AS350B2. The company will also add one AS350 B4 to its fleet with a total of eight air assets in 2016.