Air Philippines in General Santos City - Philippines

Air Philippines Corporation is a low fare airline company located in Pasay City offering domestic trips from Manila and Cebu. The company was incorporated on February 13, 1995 with the main hub located at the former Naval Air Station Cubi Point. Operations began February the following year using a Boeing 737-200 plying the route Subic Bay, Iloilo, and Zamboanga. April 1996 saw the delivery of six NAMC YS-11 aircrafts. In 1997, Air Philippines ferried more than 675,000 passengers and over 773,000 in 1997 and 1998, respectively.

In September 1998, Air Philippines Corporation ceased its operations temporarily on orders by the Air Transportation Office. After U-Land bought a stake in the company, it was reactivated. In 1999, its application to operate international flights to Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and the United States.

Air Philippines significantly increased its partnership with Philippine Airlines (PAL). The collaboration included merging frequent flier plans, flight schedules, and sales of ticket. It transferred its operations at the PAL terminal at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Some of PALs major stockholders also own stocks in Air Philippines. On October 1, 2007, the company pulled out of PALs Frequent Flier Programs Mabuhay Miles believing that it is for the good of their passengers. Rather than having them keep on flying to gain points and receive bonus points, the company decided to offer lower fares and discounts to get bonuses faster.

Air Philippines Corporation takes pride in having received several regional and international industry awards. It is a four-time recipient of the Most Outstanding Domestic Airline award given by the Consumers Union of the Philippines. On July 2008, the airline transferred its headquarters to Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Air Philippines closed and transferred operations to PAL and its low cost airline partner, PAL Express on August 2008. It assumed operation of PAL Express on behalf of Philippine Airlines.

March 2010 saw the resumption of operations of Air Philippines Corporation using the Airbus A320 serving passengers going to Iloilo, Puerto Princesa, Cagayan de Oro, and Bacolod. It is now using the name AirPhil Express.

Air Philippines Corporation had its own share of accidents and tragedies. Air Philippines Flight 541 took place on April 19, 2000 involving a Boeing 737-200. The aircraft crashed near Davao Citys Francisco Bangoy International Airport. A total of 131 people perished in the accident.

On June 24, 1996, an Air Philippines YS-11 vessel caught fire when it hit a ground power unit while taxiing at the Naga Airport. Fortunately, no one was hurt among the 34 passengers.