Technology startup Ascent on Wednesday launched a helicopter ride-sharing platform in the Philippines to spare commuters from the traffic congestion.
“Despite being one of the fastest growing business hubs in Southeast Asia, Manila’s traffic situation is also one of the most challenging in the region,” Ascent chief executive Lionel Sinai-Sinelnikoff said.
The Philippines is expected to lose P5.4 billion daily by 2035 despite interventions done for traffic congestion in Metro Manila, according to a 2017 study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
“With the launch of Ascent in the Philippines, we hope to provide a solution that is highly relevant to the current times’ economic and productivity pitfalls caused by congested roads,” Sinai-Sinelnikoff said.
Passengers can buy their seat at a fingertip and fly between locations such as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, central business districts in Makati, Bonifacio Global City in Taguig and Quezon City as well as regional locations in Clark and Tagaytay.
The helicopter services will be operated by air operator Inaec Aviation Corp.
Lionel Sinai-Sinelnikoff said the CBDs in Metro Manila have an untapped transportation opportunity.
“There is a good number of helipads and helicopters with low utilization. Through the Ascent platform, we aim to connect CBDs more easily and promote the country as an ideal destination to conduct business helped by urban air mobility,” Sinai-Sinelnikoff said.
Ascent also offers services such as luggage transport, on-ground guest assistance, airport transfers via helicopter, shuttle services to dedicated heliports and corporate packages. Ascent also offers dedicated enterprise solutions.
“We are confident that having a platform like Ascent is timely. It’s what this generation needs. The fast-paced era of digital transformation is a reality and the way people move from one city to another, be it for work or play, should match the speed of digitization,” Inaec general manager Aldi Dexter Ampong said.
“Our expertise in ensuring safe and reliable air operations, combined with Ascent’s innovative technology and passion for customer experience, offers the perfect solution for the time-sensitive members of the business community and individuals in search of a better and more productive life,” he said.
Ascent hopes to make the services accessible to more customers and plans to expand to more locations in the Philippines, including major cities in the Visayas and Mindanao. It also plans to expand to other Southeast Asian countries in the next few years.
