FOR people who have hectic schedules and are always on the go, time is gold and every second counts. Here in the Philippines, where the worsening traffic jams are expected to progress to a standstill as the countdown to the Yuletide celebration begins, people are looking for alternative means of transportation that can take them to their destination in just a matter of minutes.
Why go through the hassle and stress of traffic when you can fly by jet from, say, Parañaque to Balesin Island in 25 minutes or from Makati to Quezon City in a matter of minutes by chopper? Flying has gone from being a luxury to becoming a necessity, as more and more businessmen, high rollers and VIPs are opting to fly on private jets, which are fast, hassle-free and a more comfortable way to travel from point A to point B. Flying has evolved from a privilege previously enjoyed by the superrich and rock stars, to becoming a more affordable and practical utility.
“High-profile Filipinos can afford to drive around town with their Porsches, Lamborghinis and Ferraris, but still it is impractical for them to buy their own jets because of the high cost of maintenance,” explained Lester Codog, CEO of Iliad Private Jets. Established early this year, Iliad is a service provider that is opening its doors to a whole new era by offering the public non-schedule flights at a very affordable cost with a premier lifestyle of flying. Recently, Iliad invited a select group of media practitioners to experience the “Iliad” lifestyle by going on a day trip and having lunch at scenic and exclusive Balesin Island off the coast of Quezon province.
“It is more financially viable to sign up with our service rather than buying your own helicopter or private jet, which will cost you roughly $3.5 million to $31 million, respectively. Add to this the cost of aircraft maintenance, hangar rental fees and crew salaries, and one could easily rack up an estimated P10 million to P15 million a month. Having a private jet is like buying a supercar every month. It is just way too expensive,” said J. Gargollo, COO of Iliad Private Jets.
J. Gargollo is a veteran of the corporate taxi business, having worked abroad in a similar capacity for years. Prior to the establishment of Iliad Private Jets, the tandem of Codog and Gargollo partnered with private jet and helicopter owners. At present, their company is currently managing a fleet of aircraft that include Raven 44 (R44) helicopters, ASF355F2 (Ecureil helicopter) King Air B200, Let410, Cessna Citation 500 and a Westwind II for regional flights. The plane we took to Balesin was the Cessna Citation, which was comfortable enough to fit eight people and their luggage. According to Codog, their fleet of jets has undergone a comprehensive refurbishment process with the interiors customized and the engines replaced with brand-new ones. “Safety and comfort are our priority, and our fleet is maintained and serviced 24/7 by a ground crew of seasoned mechanics,” he explained.
Iliad Private Jets is also introducing its Iliad Flying Program. The program offers clients the chance to fly block hours, eliminating the headaches caused by operational costs, maintenance, documentation, etc. “It is as simple as only thinking about your next flight destination. When you sign up with our block hours program, you own one of our jets and chopper for 100 hours. We can fly anywhere you want or drop you off at any destination across a regional destination. Our service is just a phone call away, and the aircraft is at your service 24-hours a day, seven days a week. We also offer one-time charter flight operations, medical evacuation flights, sightseeing tour, flower dropping and aerial photography flights,” Gargollo said.
Since their operations began early this year, Iliad has been the air taxi of choice by celebrities, politicians and businessmen, whose time is as precious as gold. “We have a client who had a meeting in Hong Kong at 11 a.m., and he had to be back in Makati by 6 p.m. the same day. During the flight, he and his staff were doing some last-minute alterations on their presentations. According to that CEO, Iliad is the ultimate solution for people like them, whose lives revolve around a busy schedule,” Codog added.
Their jets can fly to destinations in the Philippines and Asia that are within a maximum of two hours of flight time. Iliad only charges its clients once the engine is switched on and during actual flying hours. For example, a trip to Boracay for three days/two nights with Iliad’s King Air B200, which will take about an hour [round trip] will cost a total of P155,000 net of tax with insurance and parking fees included. Now, that’s the kind of lifestyle that used to be enjoyed only by the rich and famous. Not anymore.