PHILIPPINES: AirSwift Acquires Brand New ATR 72-600

Aircraft lessor, Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC), confirmed it delivered one brand-new ATR 72-600 (MSN 1440), to Philippines’ AirSwift.

The airline is adding one new aircraft a year to its current fleet of three ATR-42 600s, all of them leased via NAC.

AirSwift is the first airline in the Philippines to operate the ATR 42-600 series.

Previously, the carrier used to operate two ATR 42-500s before it finally received the ATR 42-600s.

NAC is the largest owner and lessor of ATR aircraft in the globe.

With the new addition to Philippines’ boutique commercial airline, AirSwift will expand its network in 2018 to operate direct flights from El Nido, Puerto Princesa, Coron (Busuanga), and Bohol (Tagbilaran).

AirSwift will also launch flights from Manila to Sicogon, which is seen as one of the country’s new tourism hotspots.

This new route is a commitment the company made to support the growth of inter-island tourism in the Philippines, according to the airline.

Currently, NAC has 70 airline customers in 47 countries, such as British Airways, Air Canada, LOT, Azul, Lufthansa, Garuda, Flybe, Aeroméxico, and airBaltic, as well as regional carriers including Air Nostrum, Widerøe, and Binter.

Its current fleet of 400 aircraft includes ATR 42, ATR 72, Bombardier Dash 8, CRJ900, CRJ1000, CS300, E170, E175, E190, and E195.

AirSWIFT formerly Island Transvoyager is a Filipino-owned regional boutique airline company with a permit to operate domestic scheduled and non-scheduled air transportation services.

It also serves the aircraft transportation requirements of its affiliated company, El Nido Resorts.

Founded in 2002 as Island Transvoyager, the company had three Dornier 228 aircraft.

All of these were retired by early 2013 and replaced by ATR 42-600s.

Ayala Capital Corporation acquired ownership of ITI in 2012.

In October 2015, Island Transvoyager rebranded as AirSWIFT. Currently, AirSWIFT has daily flights from El Nido to Manila and Cebu.

The company operates El Nido Airport, a private airport at El Nido, Palawan which serves as its hub.

AirSWIFT serves the following destinations within the Philippines:

- Malay, Aklan Godofredo P. Ramos Airport

- Cebu City, Mactan-Cebu International Airport

- Clark Freeport Zone, Clark International Airport

- El Nido, Palawan, El Nido Airport

- Manila, Ninoy Aquino International Airport

- Basco, Batanes, Basco Airport

- Puerto Princesa, Puerto Princesa International Airport

- Busuanga, Busuanga Airport

AirSWIFT fleet consists of the following aircraft:

- ATR 42-600 - 3

- ATR 72-600 - 1

- Total - 4

AirSWIFT has the following orders:

- ATR 42-600 - 1

- ATR 72-600 - 1

- Total - 2

AirSWIFT owns and operates the following airports:

- El Nido Airport

- Sicogon Airport

Tourism Observer

PHILIPPINES: AirSWIFT Launches Cebu-El Nido Service

AirSWIFT, an airline operated by the Island Transvoyager Inc. launched its non-stop flights between Mactan-Cebu International Airport and El Nido Airport in Palawan.

AirSWIFT launched its maiden flight to El Nido on Thursday afternoon. The airline will offer daily flights between Cebu and El Nido, two of the country's most visited tourist destinations.

Passengers are able to fly to El Nido directly without flying to Puerto Princesa. Without the service, passengers will fly to Puerto Princesa and take a 6-hour land trip going to El Nido, hailed as the most beautiful beach in the world - according to a US travel magazine.

“It goes without saying that Cebu and El Nido are two of the top destinations in the Philippines, and until today it was extremely difficult to get from one place to the other,” AirSWIFT General Manager Alfie Reyes said during the launch in the Mactan Cebu International Airport.

“We are confident that there will be a good market for this in Cebu,” Reyes added.

AirSWIFT currently operates its 50-seat ATR 42-500 for its new route that departs every day from El Nido at 12:55 PM. It will arrive Cebu at 2:35 PM. The return flight depart Cebu at 3:15 PM and arrive El Nido at 4:55 PM.

AirSWIFT is the only airline that flies commercially on a regular basis directly to El Nido. The airline also operates scheduled Manila to El Nido flights four times weekly. It also offers chartered flights to El Nido, where it operates a private airport.