Aerolift Philippines

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Aerolift Philippines
IATA
N/A
ICAO
LFT
Callsign
Aerolifter
Founded 1982-1996
Hubs
Fleet size 3
Destinations 14
Parent company Aerolift Philippines Corporation
Company slogan I fly Aerolift!
Headquarters Makati City, Philippines
Key people Capt. Ben Solis (President and CEO)

Aerolift or Aerolift Philippines Corporation is a defunct inter-island airline based in the Philippines[1][2][3]. It was established in 1982 and was chosen by the government in 1989 as the second flag career of the Philippines next to Philippine Airlines[4]. Its aircraft accident caused it to ceased operation in 1996.

It pioneered the feeder airport operations in the country direct from Manila. It also hold the distinction of being the first airline to fly to Caticlan and Busuanga airport. It was the first airline which promoted Boracay as a foreign tourist destination. It flew regular flights to Kalibo, Dipolog, Tagbilaran, San Jose, and Surigao. It also flew to Bagabag, Catarman, Basco, El Nido, and Cuyo[5][6].

The airline's mounted profitable daily feeder-airport flights and growing profitable foreign tourist destinations prompted Philippine Airlines, its biggest rival to introduced direct flights to bigger airports which it operates utilizing a much bigger fokker-50 aircraft to the cities of Dipolog, Kalibo, and Tagbilaran in 1988.

Its corporate office was located in the ground floor of Chemphil Building, Pasay Road, Legaspi Village, Makati City[7].

Contents

[edit] History

Aerolift started as a charter company in 1982. Its booming charter business led it expand operations to regular scheduled flight in 1987 introducing service to Busuanga, Caticlan, and Dipolog. Tagbilaran and Kalibo was introduced a year later with the acquisition of additional aircraft. The third Beechcraft 1900 was acquired in 1989 together with the introduction of direct flight from Manila to Surigao. It also flew regular flights to and from Cebu to other domestic destinations[8]. Damage claims arising from its plane crash in 1990 led it to file bankruptcy proceedings resulting to its demise in 1996. Its original route networks were subsequently adopted by Asian Spirit and Seair.

[edit] Fleet

[edit] Accident

in 18 May 1990, one of its Beechcraft aircraft, RP-C314, flight no. 35 bound for Surigao crashed on take-off killing all 21 passengers and crew on board, including 4 persons on the ground[9][10].

[edit] References

  1. ^ FAA Airline Designations
  2. ^ Aerolift Philippines
  3. ^ Aero Transport Data Bank
  4. ^ The State and Liberalization: The Airline Industry in the East Asian NICs, by John T. Bowen, Jr. and Thomas R. Leinbach © 1995
  5. ^ Tours and Transport
  6. ^ Worlds Best Beaches, Getting Around by Air in the Philippines
  7. ^ Aerolift Business Address
  8. ^ Airlines in Cebu
  9. ^ Aviation Safety Database, Accident Description
  10. ^ The Philippines Air Accidents 1990-1999