Air Manila, Grand Air, and Filipinas Orient Airways are some airlines that used to exist in the Philippines. When we think of past airlines, we usually think of AirPhil Express and Zest Air. All these have been rebranded but are still existing. However, some airlines existed before the Marcos regime. During the Marcos regime, some were absorbed, making Philippine Airlines the sole airline in the country for a time.
Have we ever heard of Air Manila, Grand Air, Filipinas Orient Airways, PhilAir, and Spirit of Manila Airways? Did you know that some operated the Sud Aviation Caravelle? These are some airlines we want to remember as they became part of our aviation history.
We now look back at the past of Philippine commercial aviation, where we look at some of the airlines that used to fly our skies.
Air Manila
One of the most popular airlines that used to exist is Air Manila International or Air Manila. This airline was founded in 1964 and operated domestic destinations in the Philippines utilizing a fleet of Hadley Page Dart Herald, Lockheed L-188 Electra, and Fokker F27 Friendship. They later obtained five Boeing 707 jets to operate international flights and became Air Manila International (AMI). The move was opposed by Philippine Airlines (PAL), which was owned by the government then. Air Manila was merged into PAL in 1973.
Filipinas Orient Airways
One of those airlines that used to exist in the Philippines is Filipinas Orient. They Airways commenced flights in 1965 to domestic destinations around the Philippines using Dc-3. They later went into utilizing the Sud-Aviation Caravelle jets, Nord 262 / Aerospatiale N262 turboprops which were eventually replaced by the NAMC YS-11. FOA also flew to international destinations despite opposition from then government-owned Philippines Airlines. Upon the declaration of Martial Law in 1972, FOA ceased operations. Philippine Airlines took over its aircraft and destinations.
Grand Air
In 1995, then Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos signed Executive Order (EO) 219 or the deregulation of the Philippine airline industry after Philippine Airlines monopolized the airline industry for decades as it was government-owned then. The deregulation allowed other airlines to open in the Philippines. One of the first was the Grand Air of the Panlilo family. The Panlilos also owned the Philippine Village Hotel and Grand Boulevard Hotel. Grand Air patterned itself after Philippine Airlines, providing a full legacy service. They operated 5 Airbus A300B4s and 4 Boeing 737-200s. They operated both international and domestic flights, including Hong Kong Kai Tak. The airline closed in the late 90s after its debt to Taiwanese creditors grew.
Grand Air was one of the most popular airlines that used to exist in modern times.
Spirit of Manila Airlines
This must be the airline with the shortest existence, with only three months of flying operations. Spirit of Manila Airlines began flights in 2011 and ceased in 2012, with its main hub at the Clark International Airport. The airline only flew one route, from Clark to Taipei, Taiwan, and back, utilizing three leased McDonnell MD-83 and Boeing 737-300 aircraft. Low passenger load and low demand forced the airline to cease operations. Spirit of Manila Airlines also thought of acquiring Boeing 747-400s and 767s to fly to Middle-East routes, but this never arrived at fruition.
Other airlines did exist in the past, like Aero Filipinas, PhilAir, and Pearl Pacific Airways. You will still find PhilAir and Pearl Pacific Airway’s Boeing 737-200 parked at Clark International Airport, collecting dust and dirt.
Air Philippines, AirPhil Express, and Zest Air
So how about Air Philippines, AirPhil Express, and Zest Air? Air Philippines is still alive as Air Philippines Corporation operates under the name and style of PAL Express. From Air Philippines, they rebranded as AirPhil Express. In 2014, Philippine Airlines and AirPhil Express wanted to carry out a single branding strategy. As a result, AirPhil Express became PAL Express. You would, however, still see the “Operated by Air Philippines Corporation” on the nose of the PAL Express fleet.
Zest Air started as Asian Spirit Airlines until AMY Holdings of Alfredo M. Yao, the holding company of Zesto Corporation, took over the airline. They then rebranded as Zest Air, named after the juice. In 2013, Zest Air signed a share swap agreement with AirAsia Philippines, operating from Clark then. Zest Air became AirAsia Zest. In 2015, the merge was finalized, leading to Philippines AirAsia.
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