April 20, 2024 - A new player in the Philippine Aviation industry is set to serve across the Bangsamoro region. The Bangsamoro Government announced on Friday that Bangsamoro Airways will have its inaugural flight across the region on Wednesday, April 24.
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The aircraft, operated by Federal Airways Incorporated, will be based in Cotabato City, the seat of power of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The initial regional route will include Zamboanga City and Sulu Province and can accommodate six to ten passengers, including the aviators.
Bangsamoro Board of Investments (BBOI) Chairperson Mohammad Pasigan stated that the opening of the regional air route will bring more investors to the autonomous region, resulting in continuous growth in investments. The airline aims to connect the 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.
The airline is expected to extend its services to the municipalities of Sibutu and Mapun in Tawi-Tawi after three months of operation and to Kuta Kinabalu, Malaysia, next year. The airline operates in close coordination with the Ministry of Transportation and Communications’ (MOTC) Bangsamoro Airport Authority (BAA) in Cotabato City to ensure that all pertinent documents are sufficiently and essentially complied with, and they are ready to fly.
Pasigan further shared that Bangsamoro Airways can fly anytime and anywhere in nearby BARMM provinces, especially as the need arises, which promotes convenience and saves money. He emphasized that upholding peace and order is an essential ingredient in urging more investors and bringing them into the autonomous region.
This development aligns with the third and fifth priority agenda of Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, which is to boost the economic development in the BARMM by capitalizing on its comparative advantage and investing in transportation and communications.
This new venture is a significant step towards enhancing connectivity and economic growth in the region. As Bangsamoro Airways takes flight, it carries with it the hopes and aspirations of the Bangsamoro people for a prosperous and connected future.