South East Asian Airlines
Encyclopedia
Southeast Asian Airlines (SEAir), Inc. operating as SEAir is an airline
based in Pampanga
, the Philippines
. It operates domestic services and its main base is Ninoy Aquino International Airport
, Manila
, with hubs at Godofredo P. Ramos Airport
, Malay, Aklan
.
only on May 13, 2009 through Republic Act No. 9517.
The airline received its corporate registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 25 March 1995 mainly to operate aircraft leasing, chartering and few domestic scheduled flights. In May 1995, the airline was registered with the Clark Special Economic Zone to operate services in the Clark-Manila-Subic area and to tourist destinations throughout Luzon
and the Visayas
regions. It has had continual route expansion and opened a hub in Zamboanga City
in 2002.
Seair is majority-owned by local investors - 60% by the Lopezes, 10% by Nikos Gitsis and Iren Dornier at 30%. Iren Dornier is a German pilot and entrepreneur, the grandson of German flying pioneer Claudius Dornier
.
On 29 September 2006, a deal was announced in which Singapore-based Tiger Airways
will enter a commercial and operational tie-up with SEAIR from February 2007, involving the leasing of two planes in Tiger Airways colours to SEAIR, who will operate the Tiger Airways' planes with SEAIR's pilots and crew, but will be marketed and sold via Tiger Airways website. The deal does not include shareholding transactions. The tie-up was finally approved in 2008 after protest from 4 other Philippine airlines. However, due to the unfavorable operating environment, the plan was put into hiatus. Tiger and SEAir revisited the partnership plan in 2010 and it was officially launched on 16 Dec 2010.
On March, 2008, SEAIR competitor, Asian Spirit
was sold for around 1 Billion Philippine Peso
's. Juice king (owner of Zest-o juices) and banker Alfredo M. Yao completed the takeover of flag carrier Asian Spirit Inc. (ASI), and has shown interest in a merger with SEAIR, where Asian Spirit
and SEAIR merge operations under one company and one airline. The New Owners of Asian Spirit, famous for its beverage products under the Zesto group, is apparently eyeing for a majority 60 percent stake in SEAIR.
On 16th December 2010, Tiger Airways
enter the Philippines market by proxy, without setting up an airlines in Philippines. Instead, Tiger goes into partnership with SEAir, whereby Tiger will lease aircraft to SEAir, and SEAir will operate the aircraft in SEAir's livery, using SEAir's pilot and cabin crew. Seats on the flight operated by SEAir using aircraft leased from Tiger will be sold and marketed by Tiger for SEAir. Shortly after SEAir and Tiger launch the partnership, Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Zest Airways, and Air Philippines sent a letter of protest to the Department of Transportation and Communications claming the partnership between SEAir and Tiger is illegal and requested the authorities to stop flights operating under the partnership. The Tiger-SEAir Partnership began with international flights from Clark to Singapore, Hong Kong, and Macau. It was then expanded to domestic destination from Manila(NAIA) to Davao and Cebu (slated to launch in July 2011). However, the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) ordered the sales of the domestic flight under the partnership to be suspended on 20th May 2011, after receiving complaints from Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific.
website.
As of March 2011 SEAIR's fleet includes the following aircraft :
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
based in Pampanga
Pampanga
Pampanga is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Pampanga is bordered by the provinces of Bataan and Zambales to the west, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija to the north, and Bulacan to the southeast...
, the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. It operates domestic services and its main base is Ninoy Aquino International Airport
Ninoy Aquino International Airport
The Ninoy Aquino International Airport or NAIA , also known as Manila International Airport , is the airport serving the general area of Manila and its surrounding metropolitan area...
, Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, with hubs at Godofredo P. Ramos Airport
Godofredo P. Ramos Airport
Godofredo P. Ramos Airport , also known as Caticlan Airport, is an airport serving the general area of the town of Malay, located in the province of Aklan in the Philippines...
, Malay, Aklan
Malay, Aklan
The Municipality of Malay is a first class municipality in the province of Aklan, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 32,110 people in 4,747 households....
.
History
The airline was established in 1995 and started operations on the same year. Its franchise however, was granted by Congress of the PhilippinesCongress of the Philippines
The Congress of the Philippines is the national legislature of the Republic of the Philippines. It is a bicameral body consisting of the Senate , and the House of Representatives although commonly in the Philippines the term congress refers to the latter.The Senate is composed of 24 senators half...
only on May 13, 2009 through Republic Act No. 9517.
The airline received its corporate registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 25 March 1995 mainly to operate aircraft leasing, chartering and few domestic scheduled flights. In May 1995, the airline was registered with the Clark Special Economic Zone to operate services in the Clark-Manila-Subic area and to tourist destinations throughout Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
and the Visayas
Visayas
The Visayas or Visayan Islands and locally known as Kabisay-an gid, is one of the three principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, along with Mindanao and Luzon. It consists of several islands, primarily surrounding the Visayan Sea, although the Visayas are considered the northeast...
regions. It has had continual route expansion and opened a hub in Zamboanga City
Zamboanga City
The City of Zamboanga : is a highly urbanized, independent and a chartered city located in Mindanao, Philippines....
in 2002.
Seair is majority-owned by local investors - 60% by the Lopezes, 10% by Nikos Gitsis and Iren Dornier at 30%. Iren Dornier is a German pilot and entrepreneur, the grandson of German flying pioneer Claudius Dornier
Claudius Dornier
Claude Honoré Desiré Dornier born in Kempten im Allgäu was a German airplane builder and founder of Dornier GmbH...
.
Tiger Airways
Tiger Airways Singapore Pte Ltd, operating as Tiger Airways Singapore, is a low cost airline which commenced services on 25 March 2005. It is a subsidiary of Tiger Airways Holdings, a Singapore-based company, which is owned partially by Singapore Airlines...
will enter a commercial and operational tie-up with SEAIR from February 2007, involving the leasing of two planes in Tiger Airways colours to SEAIR, who will operate the Tiger Airways' planes with SEAIR's pilots and crew, but will be marketed and sold via Tiger Airways website. The deal does not include shareholding transactions. The tie-up was finally approved in 2008 after protest from 4 other Philippine airlines. However, due to the unfavorable operating environment, the plan was put into hiatus. Tiger and SEAir revisited the partnership plan in 2010 and it was officially launched on 16 Dec 2010.
On March, 2008, SEAIR competitor, Asian Spirit
Asian Spirit
Zest Airways Inc. is an airline based in the Asian Aeronautics Hangar in the General Aviation Area in Pasay City, Metro Manila in the Philippines. It operates scheduled domestic and international tourist services, mainly feeder services linking Manila and Cebu with 24 domestic destinations in...
was sold for around 1 Billion Philippine Peso
Philippine peso
The peso is the currency of the Philippines. It is subdivided into 100 centavos . Before 1967, the language used on the banknotes and coins was English and so "peso" was the name used...
's. Juice king (owner of Zest-o juices) and banker Alfredo M. Yao completed the takeover of flag carrier Asian Spirit Inc. (ASI), and has shown interest in a merger with SEAIR, where Asian Spirit
Asian Spirit
Zest Airways Inc. is an airline based in the Asian Aeronautics Hangar in the General Aviation Area in Pasay City, Metro Manila in the Philippines. It operates scheduled domestic and international tourist services, mainly feeder services linking Manila and Cebu with 24 domestic destinations in...
and SEAIR merge operations under one company and one airline. The New Owners of Asian Spirit, famous for its beverage products under the Zesto group, is apparently eyeing for a majority 60 percent stake in SEAIR.
On 16th December 2010, Tiger Airways
Tiger Airways
Tiger Airways Singapore Pte Ltd, operating as Tiger Airways Singapore, is a low cost airline which commenced services on 25 March 2005. It is a subsidiary of Tiger Airways Holdings, a Singapore-based company, which is owned partially by Singapore Airlines...
enter the Philippines market by proxy, without setting up an airlines in Philippines. Instead, Tiger goes into partnership with SEAir, whereby Tiger will lease aircraft to SEAir, and SEAir will operate the aircraft in SEAir's livery, using SEAir's pilot and cabin crew. Seats on the flight operated by SEAir using aircraft leased from Tiger will be sold and marketed by Tiger for SEAir. Shortly after SEAir and Tiger launch the partnership, Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Zest Airways, and Air Philippines sent a letter of protest to the Department of Transportation and Communications claming the partnership between SEAir and Tiger is illegal and requested the authorities to stop flights operating under the partnership. The Tiger-SEAir Partnership began with international flights from Clark to Singapore, Hong Kong, and Macau. It was then expanded to domestic destination from Manila(NAIA) to Davao and Cebu (slated to launch in July 2011). However, the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) ordered the sales of the domestic flight under the partnership to be suspended on 20th May 2011, after receiving complaints from Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific.
Destinations
South East Asian Airlines now serves domestic flight in Philippines, destinations includes Manila, Boracay, Batanes, Tablas (Romblon), Clark and Cebu. South East Asian Airlines also serves 3 international routes Hong Kong, Singapore and Macau from Clark. Flight operating under Tiger-SEAir partnership (all international flights from clark and domestic NAIA-Cebu/Davao flights) are sold through Tiger AirwaysTiger Airways
Tiger Airways Singapore Pte Ltd, operating as Tiger Airways Singapore, is a low cost airline which commenced services on 25 March 2005. It is a subsidiary of Tiger Airways Holdings, a Singapore-based company, which is owned partially by Singapore Airlines...
website.
Fleet
| Aircraft | Total | Passengers (Economy) |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A319-132 | 2 | 144 | Leased from Tiger Airways Tiger Airways Tiger Airways Singapore Pte Ltd, operating as Tiger Airways Singapore, is a low cost airline which commenced services on 25 March 2005. It is a subsidiary of Tiger Airways Holdings, a Singapore-based company, which is owned partially by Singapore Airlines... |
| Dornier 328-100 Dornier 328 |-See also:- References :* Swanborough, Gordon. "Dornier 328: A Daimler for Commuters". Air International, March 1992, Vol. 42 No. 3. pp. 123–128. ISSN 0306-5634.... |
5 | 32 | |
| L-410 UVP | 6 | 19 | All grounded at the moment |