Aerolift Philippines

Infobox Airline
airline=Aerolift Philippines
logo=
fleet_size= 3
destinations=14
IATA=N/A
ICAO=LFT
callsign=Aerolifter
parent =Aerolift Philippines Corporation
founded=1982-1996
headquarters=Makati City, Philippines
key_people=Capt. Ben Solis (President and CEO)
hubs=

*Ninoy Aquino International Airport
*Mactan Cebu International Airport

company_slogan=I fly Aerolift!
website=

Aerolift or Aerolift Philippines Corporation is a defunct inter-island airline based in the Philippines [ [http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&ct=res&cd=111&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.faa.gov%2Fregulations_policies%2Forders_notices%2Fair_traffic_orders%2Fmedia%2F7340.1Y.pdf&ei=GwNDSKH-D5DE1gbl8vWdBg&usg=AFQjCNGo0SYr9Ix36Ve-NXelsRVUK7Et7w&sig2=ycFAh3CgFOx3TS99vd9nkQ FAA Airline Designations] ] [ [http://www.aerosite.net/content/view/2214/41/ Aerolift Philippines] ] [ [http://www.aerotransport.org/php/go.php?query=operator&qstring=Aerolift+Airlines&where=43508&luck= Aero Transport Data Bank] ] . It was established in 1982 and was chosen by the government in 1989 as the second flag carrier of the Philippines next to Philippine Airlines [ [http://www.jstor.org/pss/2564511 The State and Liberalization: The Airline Industry in the East Asian NICs, by John T. Bowen, Jr. and Thomas R. Leinbach © 1995 ] ] . 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 [ [http://www.travelsmart.net/ph/info.htm Tours and Transport] ] [ [http://beach-list.com/articles/articlephil.php Worlds Best Beaches, Getting Around by Air in the Philippines] ] .

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 [ [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=C1ZRdle19cIC&pg=PA319&lpg=PA319&dq=aerolift-philippines&source=web&ots=Hc8oxYQ53j&sig=EVjUDjpYT4Ea3gbqTbiDYuax2mw&hl=en Aerolift Business Address] ] .

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 [ [http://www.cebuhotelsflights.com/airlines/ Airlines in Cebu] ] . 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.

Fleet

*3 Beechcraft 1900-C

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 [ [http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19900518-2 Aviation Safety Database, Accident Description] ] [ [http://www.baaa-acro.com/Pays/P/Philippines-1990-1999.htm The Philippines Air Accidents 1990-1999] ] .

References