It is unclear when Bicol will receive its AOC, as it needs to secure an aircraft on dry-lease, which it can then present to the CAAP for inspection.

Torres, however, says Bicol plans to launch charter flights in September from Naga City in the eastern Philippines to Caticlan Airport, the gateway to the Philippine resort area of Boracay, which is also in the eastern Philippines. That same month the airline also plans to launch charter flights from Kaohsiung, Taiwan to Basco city in the northern Philippines.

Bicol will be providing the services using two BAE 146s chartered from Philippines charter operator Lionair, says Torres.

Torres says Bicol’s earlier charter flights also used a Lionair BAE 146 as well as a Dornier 328 turboprop leased from Luis Singson, a business man who also is governor of Ilocos Sur province.