Air Juan recently launched its new seaplane terminal at the Il Corso, Filinvest area located at the South Road Properties (SRP) in Cebu to better service the Visayas-Mindanao flying public.
Travel time can now be cut down as much as 80-90 percent, as the seaplanes reach its destinations much faster than land transportation and encounter very little to no air traffic.
For example, a four to five-hour road trip from Cebu to Kandaya Resort in the northern municipality of Daan Bantayan can be reduced to only 20 minutes. A round trip enables the passenger to save around eight to 10 hours of quality time instead of commuting by bus.
According to Capt. John Gutierrez, Air Juan is not a budget airline, and is admittedly the most expensive airline, but provides the most convenience since their planes travel to distant islands and destinations not covered by other airlines. Price for a one-way trip is pegged at PhP2,500 to PhP3,000.
“Travel time and transfers are cut down drastically since one does not need to take additional transportation. And we fly even with only one passenger aboard, since there may be other passengers waiting at the opposite destination,” he told reporters during a presser held at the Parilya Restaurant.
He added that all their seaplane pilots, save for one Filipino, are Canadians who are internationally-rated practitioners with thousands of hours of flying time.
Other Air Juan destinations include Camotes Islands in Cebu, Candijay (Anda), Gigantes, Kalanggaman in Leyte, Lakawon, Malapascua and Sumilon (Oslob) in Cebu, and Panglao Island in Bohol. Passengers may also avail of plane and helicopter rentals in their Manila-based hangar. Air Juan is the first seaplane operator in the Philippines and the biggest in Southeast Asia with over 20 scheduled routes.
 
By RICHARD RAMOS