SkyJet Airlines
Magnum Air, Inc., operating as SkyJet Airlines, is Manila's first boutique airline in the Philippines that launched the Manila-Basco route for its initial operation The airline started regular commercial flights on 14 December 2012.
History
The airline started as an air charter company for group travelers and tourists who wanted to visit Batanes. In 2012, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines granted its air operator's certificate to operate commercial scheduled domestic and international routes. On December 14, 2012, it started regular flights to Basco, the capital of the province of Batanes. At the time, SkyJet was the only airline flying to this far-northern area of the Philippines. After few months, SkyJet also launched its inaugural flights to Coron, Palawan, Virac, Catanduanes and Boracay. SkyJet also started charter flights for the guests of Balesin Island, a high-end exclusive-membership island club. In December 2013, businessman-politician Hon. Dino Reyes Chua led a group of investors and took over the company and relaunched the airline company as Manila's first boutique airline. In 2014, Hon. Dino Reyes Chua was named as the new president of the airline.On 15 August 2014, SkyJet launched its first international flight to Taiwan, but during its inaugural chartered flight between Kalibo, Aklan, Philippines and Taiwan, the pilot detected abnormalities with the aircraft causing delays to Taiwanese tourists. Flights were cancelled later on to assure passenger's safety. The airline was forced to halt the route.
Destinations
SkyJet operates to the following destinations within the Philippines:City/Municipality | Airport | Notes/Refs |
Basco | Basco Airport | |
Camiguin | Camiguin Airport | |
Coron | Francisco B. Reyes Airport | |
Manila | Ninoy Aquino International Airport | Hub |
San Vicente | San Vicente Airport |
Fleet
As of July 2019, SkyJet's fleet included the following aircraft:Accidents and incidents
- On October 19, 2013, a SkyJet aircraft, on a flight chartered by Alphaland Corporation to bring tourists to Balesin Island, overshot the runway of E. L. Tordesillas Airport in Balesin. No injuries were reported but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
- On February 27, 2018, a SkyJet aircraft overshot the runway of Sayak Airport in Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte. All 73 passengers and four crew members evacuated the aircraft unharmed. The cause of the incident is currently under investigation, but the CAAP is noting a possible bird strike after one of the passengers reported that the pilot attempted to dodge a passing eagle.
- On June 8, 2018, SkyJet Flight 717 from Manila overshot the runway of Francisco B. Reyes Airport in Coron, Palawan. All 80 passengers and 6 crew members that were on the flight were unharmed. According to an initial report of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, the plane overshot the runway when it was landing and ended up in a field east of the airport.