Sunlight Air going big, eyes jetliner purchase

Boutique carrier Sunlight Air is planning to enter the jetliner segment within the next three years, as it is now assessing the country's travel market before making the leap.

- By ELIJAH FELICE ROSALES

Sunlight, the challenger airline of Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines in island destinations, is looking at the feasibility of buying its first jet before 2028, its CEO Ryna Brito-Garcia said.

"We are looking at a three-year timeline for that [plan to acquire a jet] though, but we are already studying our options," Brito-Garcia told The STAR.

Based on Airbus' listed prices as of 2018, an A320 costs as much as $101 million while the more fuel-efficient A320neo goes up to $110.6 million. Airbus is the most popular aircraft brand in the Philippines right now, making up most of the fleet of leading carriers.

Despite the required substantial investments, climbing to the jet segment could prove fruitful for Sunlight as it maneuvers to become a bigger player in air travel. A jetliner will scale up the capacity of a small-scale carrier like Sunlight, allowing it to ferry more passengers per flight.