Airlines in the Philippines

Airlines in the Philippines

Air fares in the Philippines are relatively cheap. If you book early, you may avail of promo fares. The fares for hops between the islands are from 99 to 4000 Pesos depending on the season, on the airline and the route.

But be warned: the fares displayed are only a part of the price you pay. There are multiple taxes and fees. We recommend to multiply the displayed price by two. And there are always the terminal fees for departing travelers. See also our Taxes and Fees page.

Many domestic flights are operated only between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. during day light. There are exceptions when the destination airport has IFR navigation equipment. See also our Domestic flights page.

Philippine Airlines, Inc. (abbreviated as PAL) is the oldest airline in the Philippines.

Formerly one of the largest Asian airlines, PAL was severely affected by the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. In one of the Philippines' biggest corporate failures, PAL was forced to downsize its international operations by completely cutting flights to Europe and Middle East, cutting virtually all domestic flights except routes operated from Manila, reducing the size of its fleet, and laying off thousands of employees. The airline was placed under receivership in 1998, and gradually restored operations to many destinations. PAL exited receivership in 2007.

IATA code is: PR. ICAO code is: PAL. International call sign is: PHILIPPINE

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Airline founded: 03-1941

Aircraft fleet: 52 units

• 6 units Boeing 777-300ER
• 6 units Airbus A340-300
• 7 units Airbus A330 (414-seater)
• 6 units Airbus A330 (368-seater)
• 17 units Airbus A321-231
• 10 units Airbus A320-200

Average fleet age: 4.7 years

Domestic destinations:
- Manila
- Bacolod
- Cebu
- Davao
- General Santos
- Iloilo
- Kalibo
- Laoag
- Manila
- Tagbilaran

PALexpress (short for Philippine Airlines Express), formerly Air Philippines, is the low-cost regional airline brand of sister airline Philippine Airlines. After operating as PALexpress for a while, the airline transformed again the brand into Airphil Express. However, in March 2013, the company's CEO announced its re-branding into PALexpress. As a brand of Philippine Airlines, PALexpress will be operating as a full service carrier with low-cost management.

IATA code is: 2P. ICAO code is: GAP. International call sign is: ORIENT PACIFIC

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Airline founded: 03-2010

Aircraft fleet: 16 units

• 6 units Airbus A320-200
• 1 unit Airbus A321-200
• 4 units Dash 8-300
• 5 units Dash 8-400

Average fleet age: 8.6 years

Domestic destinations:

In March 1996, Cebu Pacific entered the market with a promise to give "low fare, great value" to every Juan who wanted to fly. After offering low fares to domestic destinations, CEB launched its international operations on November 2001.

Cebu Pacific is not just the leader in low fares but also in innovation and creativity! CEB is the first local airline to introduce e-ticketing, prepaid excess baggage and seat selection in the Philippines. Guests have also learned to anticipate a uniquely upbeat flying experience with CEB, as this is the only domestic carrier that offers fun in the skies with its games on board popularly known as Fun Flights.

IATA code is: 5J. ICAO code is: CEB. International call sign is: CEBU AIR

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Airline founded: 03-1996

Aircraft fleet: 57 units

• 6 units Airbus A330-300
• 36 units Airbus A320-200)
• 7 units Airbus A319
• 8 units ATR 72

Average fleet age: 5.0 years

Domestic destinations:

Cebgo is a low-cost airline headquartered in Manila. After its rebranding from SEAIR to Tigerair Philippines in 2015 and then to CEBgo, the company is now a subsidiary of Cebu Pacific. CEBgo has terminated all jet operations as it transforms into a domestic turbo-prop carrier based at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 4.

Cebgo now operates the turbo-prop fleet of the Cebu Pacific group. All aircraft are ATR72-600. Cebgo and Cebu Pacific Air share their booking platform.

IATA code is: DG. ICAO code is: SRQ. International call sign is: Bluejay

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Airline founded: 05-2015

Aircraft fleet: 16 units

• 16 units ATR72-600

Average fleet age: 3.4 years

Domestic destinations:

AirAsia Inc., operating as Philippines AirAsia Zest is a low-cost airline based at Clark International Airport in Angeles City. Philippines AirAsia has integrated Zest Airways, in 2013.

Philippines AirAsia ZEST is the youngest and still smallest airline in the Philippines.

IATA code is: PQ. ICAO code is: APG. International call sign is: COOL RED

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Airline founded: 12-2010

Aircraft fleet: 15 units

• 15 units Airbus A320-200

Average fleet age: 4.8 years

Domestic destinations:

Magnum Air (Skyjet) Inc., operating as SkyJet, is a full service airline based in Manila. It is owned by entrepreneur Dr. Joel Mendoza.

The airline begun as charter offering flights to group travel in the Philippines. In April 2012 it launched its regular charter flight to Basco. After realizing potential and the lack of competition on the Manila-Basco route, the airline offers regular flights to Basco Airport, the capital of Batanes group of islands.

IATA code is: M8. ICAO code is: MSJ. International call sign is: MAGNUM AIR

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Airline founded: 12-2012

Aircraft fleet: 1 unit

• 1 unit BAE-146 series 100

Average fleet age: 28 years

Domestic destinations:
- Manila
- Basco (Batanes)
- Caticlan
- Coron
- Surigao

Founded in 2002 as ITI Philippines, the company had been operating three leased Dornier 228 aircraft. All of these were retired by early 2013 and replaced by ATR 42s.

Ayala Capital Corporation acquired ownership of ITI in 2012. In October 2015, ITI rebranded as AirSWIFT. Currently, AirSWIFT has daily flights from El Nido to Manila and Cebu.

IATA code is: T6. ICAO code is: n/a. International call sign is: ITI

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Airline founded: 12-2002

Aircraft fleet: 3 units

• 2 units ATR 42-500
• 1 unit ATR 42-600

Average fleet age: n/a

Domestic destinations:
- Manila
- Cebu
- El Nido

Established in 2008 as Island Helicopter Services. At the beginning of 2011, the idea to provide travelers convenient travel options and access to nearby islands gave birth to its affiliate, the Mid-Sea Express.

In 2013, Mid-Sea Express re-branded itself to become Fil-Asian Airways under new management. The new airline is set to relaunch flights on old routes of Mid-Sea Express using bigger aircraft. On March 27, 2013, its first commercial flight as Fil-Asian Airways commenced between Zamboanga and Cebu.

IATA code is: n/a. ICAO code is: n/a. International call sign is: n/a

Book Fil-Asian on-line

WARNING: This "airline" has no AOC! ⁽¹⁾

Airline founded: 2008

Aircraft fleet: 1 NAMC YS-11-500

Average fleet age: 20+ years

Domestic destinations: unknown

Sky Pasada is the jeepney of the sky! It revolutionized the traditional hub-and-spoke concept of airline service by connecting landing destinations in circuit schedules, thus the term "Pasada." Just like the Philippine jeepney, it makes every stop-over a new starting point!

WCC Aviation, Inc., operating as Sky Pasada, is an airline based in Manila, Philippines and owned by the Guico family of Pangasinan. In July 2010, the airline suspended operations on order from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines for the repair of its fleet of 3 Let L-410 Turbolet aircraft to conform to international standards, but resumed operations in May 2011.

IATA code is: SP. ICAO code is: WCC. International call sign is: n/a

Book Sky Pasada on-line

WARNING: This "airline" has no AOC! ⁽¹⁾

Airline founded: 02-2010

Aircraft fleet: 3 Let L-410 Turbolet

Average fleet age: 20+ years

Domestic destinations:

On June 30, 2010, The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines has directed to ground all LET410 operating in the Philippines due to safety concerns of the aircraft.

Spirit of Manila Airlines Corporation (Spirit of Manila) is the latest Filipino-owned airline company offering scheduled international and regional passenger services from Manila/Clark to key Asian and Middle Eastern countries. The airline is based in the Clark Freeport Zone at Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Clark Field, Pampanga.

The airlines adopts the slogan: "I am going home" as its tagline. They are little known, and rated badly for their cancellation of flights and poor service.

IATA code is: SM. ICAO code is: MNP. International call sign is: MANILA SKY

Book Spirit of Manila on-line

WARNING: This "airline" has no AOC! ⁽¹⁾

Airline founded: 2008

Aircraft fleet: 3
- 2 McDonnell Douglas MD-83
- 1 Boeing 737-301

Average fleet age: 25+ years

Domestic destinations:

none

⁽¹⁾ This "airline" has no AOC!

These "airlines" do not have an Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) from CAAP, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

An air operator's certificate (AOC) is the approval granted from a national aviation authority (NAA) to an aircraft operator to allow it to use aircraft for commercial purposes. This requires the operator to have personnel, assets and asystem in place to ensure the safety of its employees and the general public. The certificate lists the aircraft types and registrations to be used, for what purpose and in what area.

The requirements for obtaining an AOC vary from country to country, but are generally defined as:

• Sufficient personnel with the required experience for the type of operations requested,
• Airworthy aircraft, suitable for the type of operations requested,
• Acceptable systems for the training of crew and the operation of the aircraft (Operations Manual)
• A quality system to ensure that all applicable regulations are followed,
• The appointment of key accountable staff, who are responsible for specific safety critical functions such as training, maintenance and operations,
• Carriers Liability Insurance (for Airlines) - Operators are to have sufficient insurance to cover the injury or death of any passenger carried.
• Proof that the operator has sufficient finances to fund the operation
• The operator has sufficient ground infrastructure, or arrangements for the supply of sufficient infrastructure, to support its operations into the ports requested.
• The certificate is held by a legal person who resides in the country or region of application