Skyjet Airlines teamed up with the Office of the President, 250th Presidential Airlift Wing, Office of the Special Assistant to the President, Presidential Management Staff and office of Senator Bong Go to mount charity rescue flights to Davao City, General Santos City and Iloilo City to help locally stranded individuals affected by the quarantine and travel restrictions.
The rescue flights were made possible through the efforts of Skyjet chairman Wilson Tieng and president Joel Yang while working closely with the Office of the President and Office of Senator Bong Go in making the flights possible. The airline deployed BAE 146-200 aircraft to mount the charity rescue flights helmed by chief pilot Capt. John Jatico and his crew.
The first flight departed on July 18 to Davao, followed by another roundtrip flight to General Santos City and Iloilo on July 19 and July 20, respectively.
Skyjet said the effort is in line with the company’s CSR to serve Filipinos and help LSIs be reunited with their families at a time when cross-province and inter-island travel is limited.
President Rodrigo Duterte signed last year a law granting Magnum Air or SkyJet a 25-year franchise to “establish, operate and maintain domestic and international air transport services” in the country.
The rescue flights were also made possible through the assistance and coordination with the Philippine Air Force, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police, Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, PMS RFUs 6, 11 and 12 and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.