A new airline based in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is gearing up to commence operations next week. Bangsamoro Airways, operated by Federal Airways Incorporated, will begin flying across the region on April 24, 2024.
According to Mohammad Pasigan, Chairperson of the Bangsamoro Board of Investments (BBOI), the airline initially plans to serve routes connecting the mainland BARMM to the provinces of Zamboanga City and Sulu.
Based on photos posted by Bangsamoro Airways on Facebook, the airline will operate RP-C2138, a Britten-Norman BN-2A-21 Islander, which is capable of seating ten passengers and crew. The specific aircraft was first delivered to a private owner in 1975, according to Planelogger.com.
Moreover, the airline will also operate a Piper PA-23 Aztec, which seats six passengers and crew. AUP is still confirming the tail number of this airframe.
The two aircraft are currently leased from Fliteline Airways, as confirmed by AUP’s sources.
“The opening of Bangsamoro Airways will bring more investors to the autonomous region, resulting in continuous growth in investments,” Pasigan stated in an interview on Tuesday, April 16.
Pasigan revealed that Bangsamoro Airways aims to connect the BARMM’s mainland to its island provinces, with the goal of making essential services more accessible, strengthening bureaucracy and logistics, and boosting the region’s economy, tourism, and employment opportunities.
After three months of operations, the airline plans to extend its services to the municipalities of Sibutu and Mapun in Tawi-Tawi. Within a year, it also intends to establish a route to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.
The Bangsamoro Airways has coordinated with the Bangsamoro Airport Authority (BAA) under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) to ensure compliance with all necessary documents and readiness for flight operations.
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