Air Juan targets higher capacity in next 5 years

AIR JUAN Aviation, Inc. (Air Juan) said it plans to increase by fivefold its passenger capacity in the next five years as it aims to double capacity and expand its network.

“[ We want to increase the passenger capacity in five years to] times five,” Air Juan President John Anthony Gutierrez told reporters yesterday when asked by how much they want to increase passenger capacity during the company’s fifth anniversary event.

Paolo Misa, Air Juan marketing head, said the firm accommodates around 1,000-1,500 passengers per month, with 20% of the business serving chartered flights.

In line with its planned increase in capacity, the company plans to acquire about 10 new aircraft to add to its current fleet of 11. However, they have yet to identify the aircraft models based on demand. “Once we see the volume is there, we can decide,” Mr. Gutierrez said.

Mr. Misa added that they are also looking at acquiring fewer aircraft but with higher seating capacity, depending on the changes in demand for popular routes.

“Then again, we can’t say that we want 10 more aircraft, [maybe], if it’s a strong route, we can go 19 seats... there are very promising routes,” Mr. Misa told reporters.

Air Juan started its operations of chartered flights in 2012 and started scheduled chartered flights in Palawan in 2014. It now operates scheduled flights to 22 destinations in the country.

Its aircraft fleet is composed of Cessna Grand Caravan seaplanes and landplanes, as well as Bell helicopters used for chartered flights. It has three designated hubs: Manila, Puerto Princesa, and Cebu.

Mr. Gutierrez said they initially targeted their services to “timesensitive clients,” many of whom are foreigners both on leisure and business travel, as they bring passengers directly to their destinations without going through the congestion of airports.