Beginning on April 24, 2024, Bangsamoro Airways, a brand-new airline in Muslim Mindanao's Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, will begin operating flights throughout the area.
The recently founded airline will use aircraft that can carry six to ten passengers, including the pilot and airline employees, on its maiden operations between the cities of Cotabato, Zamboanga, and Sulu province.
Bangsamoro Airways, a Federal Airways Inc. airline, "aims to connect mainland BARMM to its island provinces to make the provision of significant services accessible, strengthen bureaucracy and logistics and bolster the region's economy, tourism, and employment," according to a statement made on the official BARMM website.
Going beyond Bangsamoro
After three months of operation, the airline is anticipated to expand its flights to the Tawi-Tawi municipalities of Sibutu and Mapun.
About a year later, it will start offering flights to Kuta Kinabalu, Malaysia, for foreign travelers.
For the time being, Bangsamoro Airways would continue to accommodate six and ten passengers—including the aviators—on its travels to Zamboanga City and Sulu Province, respectively.
Humbled by support
The crew behind Bangsamoro Airways posted a statement on Facebook, expressing their gratitude for the chance to lead the first BARMM-established airline in the area amidst local support.
"As a humble carrier of limited seater flights initially, we believe that baby steps will lead to giant footprints. The success of our airline will be very dependent on the support of the public, the Government of BARRM and all our partners and friends as we believe that working hand in hand is the path towards mutual success for all," they said.
"As a small airline outfit with big dreams, and with everyone's full support, we shall be able to expand our fleets, our seating capacity and extend our reach to cover the entire BARMM region eventually," the statement continued.
As of April 2024, the BARMM had investments of P3.7 billion, above the P2.6 billion they had set aside for the current fiscal year, according to a report by the Bangsamoro Board of Investments.
