Reviewer Transportation as a vital tourism service plays a there are charges for the artificial works for port
there are charges for the artificial works for port and
Transportation generally pertains to the activity of
transferring goods or people from one point to another
destination. It clearly explains that it does not
exclusively deliver goods but also people, which reveals
the connection between transportation and tourism.
Transportation is an integral component of the tourism
industry that carries tourists to their desired tourism
destination. Badan and Bhatt (2007) identified reasons
transportation is vital in the tourism and travel industry
Transportation services such as air and rail tickets, car
rental, motor coaches, and ferry services are among the
principal products of the travel Industry.
Transportation service quality is a significant factor in
the tourist experience. Poor transport service quality can
negatively affect the vacation experience of the tourists,
while high transport service quality could lead to a
satisfactory tourist experience.
Transportation is defined as an activity where people
or goods are transferred from their origin to another
destination-it can be via land, air, or water in tourism,
transportation is considered an important sector of the
industry because it is the primary sector that brings
tourists to their desired destination.
The transportation system is composed of several
elements, such as the way, which is classified into
natural (e.g., air and sea travel) and artificial media
(e.g., roads, rails and canals).
Transportation does not simply move products; it also
carries individuals and conveys them to their preferred
destination.
Transportation, as a primary tourist service, is
likewise one of the most utilized services in the travel
and tourism industry. It provides access to the tourist
destination, allows tourists to visit and get to places of
attractions or explore cities or towns, and carries
tourists back to their point of origin.
primary role in realizing tourists’ or travelers' need to
reach their preferred destination. Aside from its purpose
to bring tourists from their generating region to their
destination region and return, this major component of
tourism allows tourists to explore and see the amazing
beauty of the host destination. The transport that can be
utilized by tourists varies. Below are the several types
of tourist transport according to Dileep (2019).
Transportation is one of the highly used services to
visit tourist destinations and the key tourist service in
the tourism and travel industry. It can be categorized as
independent means of travel and mass travel.
Tourism is defined by World Tourism Organization
(UNWTO) as "activities of persons traveling to and
staying in places outside their usual environment for not
more than one consecutive year for leisure, business,
and other purposes."
Surface. Surface transportations include land and water
transport
Land transport grew rapidly with an increase in rental
cars and motorcoaches, as well as the ownership of
automobiles. This type of transport provides easy access
to the visitor attractions. A point-to-point pick-up and
drop-off are some of the advantages of utilizing car or
motor coach rentals.
Water transport's smooth sailing lies in the wind, but
with the advent of steam power, it made water transport
far better. This transport allows tourists to see visitor
attractions that are only accessible by.
Air. Air transport has tremendously contributed to the
growth of domestic and
international tourism because it decreases the travel
time of the tourists. This mode of transport
revolutionized the tourism industry through its high-
speed aircraft and comfortable passenger seats and
services.
The Way- It can be classified as open as air and sea
travel, it is free and does not have any cost However,
inland waterways. Or it can be constructed like roads,
rails, and canals. According to Dileep (2019), "the way"
can be artificial or natural media. Roads and railways
are examples of artificial media, while airways and sea
routes are natural media.
The Vehicles - They serve as media or units that carry
people to their destination. They can be an aircraft,
trains, ships, or motor coaches. This element is also
called the "carrying unit, “which is the most essential
element of the transport system (Dileep, 2019).
Terminal - It is a built structure that provides
passengers with smooth transfers from and to major
modes of transportation such as airlines, buses, and
ferries. According to Rodrigue and Slack (n.d.), a
terminal may also be considered a point of interchange
within that same mode of transport.
Differences in the demand for tourism transport can be
influenced by seasonality. For instance, the demand for
tourist transport is high in the Philippines during
summer, while demand decreases throughout the rainy
season.
Another factor is price elasticity. An increase in
transportation costs could lead to a decrease in demand.
This is commonly felt in air transportation (Rodrigue
and Nottebom, n.d.; Dileep, 2019)
Lastly, some of the
transport sectors are expensive – highly capital-
intensive. A great amount of investment is Leading
Innovations, Transforming Livesneeded, like
purchasing an aircraft to be used as air transportation or
a ship for cruise tourism.
Independent means of travel- refers to tourists who
individually book their trips usually by land transport
through private car rentals. It also counts bookings
made by an individual on any of the mass transportation
such as rail, ferries, cruises, and scheduled flights.
Mass travel- is an organized group tour, this category
uses chartered coaches and flights for a specific purpose

General Passenger Transport- This type of transport
is mainly for the general traveler and not just
specifically
designed to meet the needs of the tourists. In most
cases, tourists from other countries rely on this type of
transport to get to their desired destination, like taking
scheduled air transport. This type of transport is often
found in tourist destinations because of its viability.
Dedicated Tourist Transport- This type of transport is
frequently included in a tour package. Commonly used
are coaches that are chartered for a particular purpose.
Luxury Tourist Transport- This type of tourist
transport is designed to offer high-quality service and a
comfortable travel experience. Tourists who often take
this type of transport are more likely those who seek
comfort while traveling
Recreational Transport- This transport service is
generally used for tourism, such as hop-on and hop-off
buses, safari vehicles, and bikes. This type of transport
attracts tourists who are seeking a nontraditional and
fun transport experience.
Multipurpose Tourist Transport- This type of tourist
transport includes motorhomes, RV trailers,
campervans, and "rotels." Rotels, or also known as
"rolling hotels," are in vogue right now.
Distance -This is one of the major considerations in
choosing the best available mode of transport. The
location of the destination influences the tourist choice
in selecting a transport service
Schedule - This refers to the transport departure and
arrival time at the destination. It is practical for tourists
to choose a transport service with a schedule that best
fits their itinerary.
Frequency - Tourists often look for transportation with
higher frequency because this gives them the
convenience of not waiting too long for the next
available departure.
Availability - Tourist transport availability provides
travelers an opportunity to choose. The more tourist
transports available in accessing the destination, the
better. It will give tourists a chance to choose which
best to utilize according to their needs.
Speed - With a tourist's limited vacation time, speed
becomes one of the most essential considerations in
choosing transportation. The quicker the tourists arrive
at the destination means that they will have more time
to enjoy the place.
Safety and Security - Passengers would certainly not
compromise their safety and security while traveling. A
safer and more secure mode of transport is often the
priority for tourists in visiting their desired destination
and traveling within the destination.
Convenience - A hassle-free vacation is the most
sought-after experience for a tourist. Transport services
offering convenience to passengers are frequently
selected.
Unique Experience - Tourists are oftentimes enticed to
choose tourist transport services that create an
exceptional travel opportunity.
Route - This is another factor that influences tourists'
decisions in selecting the best transport to use. Often,
the tourist choices are affected by the connecting flights
and their layover. Some tourists find it favorable if they
have a longer stopover that allows them to have a short
tour in the city.
Cost - The fare or cost of transport services generally
affects the decision of the tourist in choosing which
service to avail of. Low-cost carriers are often chosen
because of the competitive price they offer for their
service.
Status and Prestige - Transport services are sometimes
influential in deciding which service to choose from.
This is due to the increased status and prestige given to
the passenger availing of the service.
Airline- To be called an industry, the organizations
must be having similar activities, products, or services.
It has been defined as a collection of enterprises in a
particular area or field (Industry, n.d.)
Domestic airlines- operate within the same country.
Domestic airlines limit their operations to flights
between the different cities or provinces in the country
like the Philippines Another example would be the U.S.
domestic airlines that serve routes within the 50 states
of the United States (Holt & Poynor, 2016). The idea is
that the operations are only within the same country
where the airlines are registered.
Regional Airlines - it can be used for those air carriers
that operate within a geographical region. For example,
airlines that operate outside their country but within the
Asian region. These airlines are usually limited in their
destination because of the type of airplane they use.
Some airplanes only have a maximum flying time of 3-
6 hours. With such a limitation, they can fly only to
destinations within the airline's geographic region.
International Airlines- are different from regional
airlines in the distance they travel. Typically,
international airlines travel to destinations with more
than 7 hours of flying time. Airlines that fly long-haul
routes fall in this type.
Legacy or Heritage or Full-Service Airlines- are often
used for airlines that started the commercial airline
industries. These are airlines with international
scheduled service. They often operate with the more
traditional or old-school strategies. The name legacy is
indicative of the fact that they are the oldest airline
companies operating. They are also known as full
service carriers (FSC).
Low-cost Airlines- are more often known as low-cost
carriers (LCCs). Some call them budget airlines. The
emergence of the LCC has had the strongest impact on
the success of the legacy carrier.
- LCCs are airlines that often offer low fares. The term
"low cost" applies to both the consumers or the
passengers and from the airline management. What is
essential to the success of LCCS is their low cost of
operations.
- Airline operation and management is capital-intensive,
which is why air tickets are expensive. Only the
LCCs that operate with lower costs can profit even if
they offer low fares.
Air taxis or air charters- are air transportation
companies that do not provide scheduled services. The
name taxi gives the notion of hiring an aircraft for a
private function. Usually, air taxis are smaller airplanes
or private jets. These can also be helicopters. On the
other hand, air charters use larger airplanes, such as
Airbus and Boeing, pending the need of the group who
will charter.
Air taxis are often hired on one-off transactions. Air
charters can also be used for routes that are not yet
operated as scheduled flights but may have a large
number of passenger traffic. At the height of Boracay's
popularity, there were so many Chinese wanting to visit
the island that entrepreneurs saw the opportunity to
have regular charter flights. The charter flights run three
to five times weekly for at least six months
Continuously.
Boutique Airlines- are not low-cost carriers but are
often mistaken as such. Most boutique carriers use
small airplanes, giving the impression of being low-
cost. However, their fleet is mostly small jets because
they serve small airports that are the gateway to high-
end destinations or resorts These airlines offer fares that
are more expensive than most commuter fares.
Point-to-point carriers- are airlines that only service
passengers from the origin city to the registered
destination. For passengers traveling on different
airlines that are point topoint airlines, their checked-in
bags are only carried until the destination of the carrier.
Passengers will have to retrieve their bags and check in
again for the next flight even if it is within two to three
hours apart.
Flag carriers- traditionally are government-owned
airlines. When the airline industry started, it was
common for the government to start, operate, and
manage their own airlines. With the privatization of
airlines in the 1980s, the meaning of flag carriers has
changed.
Today, flag carriers are transportation companies whose
equipment (like ships or airlines) carry the flag of the
country where they are registered (Singh, 2019). In the
Philippines, Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific
aircraft are registered with CAAP, making both airlines
the flag carriers.
Buying Behavior- More travelers are purchasing travel
services through OTAS. The top OTA in the US market
in 2018 is Viator. Transport and tourism establishments
can capitalize on this trend to increase their sales and
revenue. However, OTAs should provide instant
booking confirmation, not just information, to be of
value to businesses.
Use of Technology- Though desktop and mobile apps
are both using technology, mobile apps are gaining
popularity since travelers are becoming busier and are
often on the go. TrekkSoft (2019) study saw an
increase in the use of mobile phone apps for booking
for the year 2018. The report also featured Skift's
Research that found 35% of travelers book travel
services using their mobile while they are at the
destination.
Personalization- Small and large companies alike use
personalization to build relationships with their
customers. It gives customers a better experience and
creates loyal clients. Morgan (2020) shared statistics,
saying that 72% of SmartHQ customers engage only
when they get personalized messages. Also, 80% of
frequent buyers also look for a personalized experience.
These show that communication is the key when going
digital. Consumers are more confident with buying
online from businesses they can communicate directly
with.
- Some establishments use Chatbots, which are
administratively cheaper compared to having a live
customer support agent. A study in 2017 showed that
67% of consumers have used chatbots.
Health Safety- For safety reasons, the new normal
traveling gear will include a face mask or even a face
shield. Passengers may not have the benefit of seeing
the beautiful faces of the cabin crew who will be
wearing the personal protective equipment (PPE)
previously seen only in hospitals. Except for the voice
of the pilot, the plane will be quiet as chitchats are
discouraged. Because social distancing is now a
requirement for the new normal, there will be lesser
passengers. This will impact airline profitability. For
airlines, a flight is profitable if at least 80% of seats are
sold. But with seating passengers apart, the 80%
passenger load factor (PLF) will be difficult to achieve.
Digitalization- has been the trend even pre-COVID-19.
It has gained more traction post COVID-19 when
touchless and contactless transactions are encouraged.
Check-in kiosks are gaining popularity, and the
implementation is on the fast track. Instead of going
fully digital in 2025, airlines have had to implement
their automation projects ahead of schedule Airline
websites have become a one-stop shop where
passengers are encouraged to use when booking flights.
Communications with airlines are done through email
and other communication apps. Cancellation and other
changes to flight arrangements are also done digitally.
Websites often have chatbots that can answer the
common questions asked by passengers.
Travel Behavior- and buying patterns may change
post-COVID-19. With the pandemic still ongoing,
domestic travel will be more popular over international
travel. Local government units may have their own
travel protocols, but slowly, travelers will be allowed to
go around the country. Domestic travel may bounce
back ahead of international travel because of this.
Space Tourism-Man has conquered space travel since
the late 1960s. After 50 plus years, is tourism ready for
space tourism? What exactly is space tourism?
- Space tourism is a new niche tourism trend that gives
the traveler the experience of being an astronaut.
Henderson and Wai (2019) explained that tourists may
want to have this experience mostly for recreation or
leisure but may also be for business purposes. In the
study of Reddy et al. (2009), motivations that will drive
people to do space travel include being able to view
Earth from space, having a feeling of weightlessness,
experiencing super highspeed travel, having an unusual
experience, and being able to contribute to science
(Henderson & Wai, 2019).
- As a niche tourism activity, space travel is expensive
and will require the traveler to allocate much time for it.
Tourists who may want to experience space travel may
need to undergo training before the actual activity. The
cost may be very expensive for ordinary.
Runway- is the strip of a heavily paved area where
airplanes use for take-off and landing. Wind direction is
considered when designing the runway of the airport.
The bigger airports of the world have several runways.
A regular-sized airport runway can accommodate a
maximum of thirty movements (landing or take-off)
within the day. A busier airport will need to have
another runway (Components of an Airport, n.d.).
-Airport runways also have special markings to help
airline pilots identify them even from a distance.
-Runways can limit the type of airplane that can land
on and take off from an airport. They are usually built
with concrete to make them last longer. Extending the
runway is one way to expand its market. Runway
extensions make it possible for bigger aircraft with
heavier payloads to land. Airplanes needing more fuel
for longer flights will also be accessible to the airport
(Kazda & Caves, 2015).
Taxiways- are different from runways. It is what
connects the runways to the other airport components
such as the passenger terminal, apron, or parking. For
some airports, the taxiway is used for changing from
one runway to another (Components of an Airport, n.d.)
-The design of the taxiway of an aerodrome is difficult
to conceptualize. The basic design can be enough for an
airport with minimal aircraft movement. The more
complex the runway and taxiway system is, the more
the operating costs become more effective (Kazda &
Caves, 2015). The more taxiways there are, the more
airplanes can take off and land.
The apron in airline terms does not only refer to what
the cabin crew wears when they serve meals. It is the
area when airplanes park in front of the terminal. This is
where airplanes can load and unload passengers and
cargo. Some refer to this area as the ramp, but the apron
is the international term used (It's Not a Tarmac! Airline
Terminology, 2014).
Hangars are connected to taxiways for easy access for
airplanes. Components of an Airport (n.d.) described
the hangar as a structure where the aircraft is repaired or
serviced. This structure is like a huge shed made from
steel trusses and frames. It is large enough to allow
aircraft to easily move in and out of the structure.
The control tower can be likened to a nervous system.
It is where air traffic controllers monitor and control the
landing and take-off of aircraft within its zone. It is
designed to allow 360° of visual observation of the
airways around the airport. Monitoring Is also done
with the help of navigation equipment and radars
(Components of an Airport, n.d).
Parking is important for airports. This is the area where
airport personnel leave their cars while they do their
day's work. Here is where passengers can also park their
cars.
The airport terminal is the first point of contact in the
destination. Kazda and Caves (2015) said that the
airport terminal gives passengers their first impression
of the place they will be visiting. This is especially true
for international passengers. It can be a showpiece of
the destination's architectural point of view.
For commercial airports, the terminal building is
critical. It is where departing passengers are processed.
Tickets are validated, passport and visa or other travel
documents are checked, and boarding passes are issued.
International passengers go through customs and
Immigration. It is also the waiting or holding area for
passengers before they board the airplane.
It also houses the administration offices of the airport
management. Airlines with flights coming in and going
out of the airport typically have offices located in the
terminal building.
Departure area/level is where passengers' travel
documents are processed. This is where immigration
interviews are done. Here is where they spend time
waiting for the boarding of their flights.
Arrival area/level is where passengers claim their
checked-in baggage and go thru Customs if needed.
International passengers also need to clear immigration
upon their arrival before they can enter the country of
destination.
Design of an airport is important in its operations. The
size of the terminal building should consider the
number of flights and passengers it caters to. Some
aerodromes are small in comparison with international
airports. International airports also differ in size because
of the amount of air traffic that goes thru them. The
Manila International Airport or Ninoy Aquino
International Airport is small in comparison with
Singapore's Changi International Airport.
The design and construction of runways and taxiways
also look at the number of aircraft that take off and land
on a given day. The type of aircraft is also one
consideration. Prather et al. (2015) wrote that airport
architects and engineers must keep in mind the length
of the aircraft fuselage as well as its wingspan.
Airport Ownership and Management- When the
airline industry started in the 1940s, airports were
owned and managed by governments. Privatization
became popular throughout the world in the 1980s.
Airports at that time were commercialized and taken
over by corporations. The common reason is for easier
access to private sector's financing and investment
(Oum et al., 2006, p. 1-18).
- The study of Oum et al. (2006, p. 1-18) showed that
airports under government ownership or where the
government has major ownership are less efficient than
airports that are privately owned. This study encouraged
different governments to divest and allow
the private sector to take over.
-Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Mactan-Cebu
International Airport, and Clark International Airport
are not fully controlled by CAAP and are instead under
separate management. CAAP's mandate fully covers
other airports in the Philippines. Though the three
airports are privately owned, CAAP still supervises and
controls them.
Revenues for Airport- Airports generally offer
services rather than products. To provide these:
services, airport managements need to maintain and
continuously develop and improve their facilities as
well. The costs of maintenance, improvement,
development, and providing service are quite high.
Prather et al. (2015) stressed that for airports to
continue their operations, they must recover those
expenses. Airport fees can be classified into two:
aeronautical revenues and non-aeronautical revenue.
Aeronautical revenues- are those fees and charges paid
by airlines in connection with the operation of flights.
These are landing fees, fuel fees, land lease, and
terminal rent Airports can maximize their revenues
when aircraft turnaround time is faster. Most lowcost
carriers target a 25-minute turnaround as they prefer
their aircraft on the air rather than on the ground (Kazda
& Caves, 2015)
Non-aeronautical revenue- is charged for activities
and services outside aeronautical activities. These can
include charging for space rented out to concessionaires
like restaurants, snack bars, and retail outlets. These are
activities and services that passengers, airline staff,
airport staff and greeters may avail of.
Aviation- The word aviation is a general term that
originated from the French word "avi" meaning bird
(Aviation, n.d.). The researched meaning of aviation is
a noun that means the design, development, production,
operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-
air aircraft. This definition covers a system that has a
reference to air transportation.
General Aviation- The International Civil Aviation
Organization (2009) defines general aviation as "all
civil aviation operations other than scheduled air
services and non-scheduled air transport operations for
remuneration or hire." It involves activities such as
business flights, air charter, private aviation, flight
training, ballooning, paragliding, parachuting, gliding,
hang gliding, aerial photography, foot-launched
powered hang gliders, air ambulance, crop dusting,
charter flights, traffic reporting, police air patrols, and
forest fire fighting. General aviation is a wider term.
-The airports in the Philippines see several general
aviation activities. Aside from the number of
commercial flights taking off and landing at Ninoy
Aquino International Airport, general aviation
contributes to the airport's congestion.
Commercial Aviation -Though commercial aviation is
part of general aviation, commercial aviation can be
differentiated as activities that involve flying for
business, remuneration, or hire. The best example is the
scheduled flights of commercial airlines that operate in
major airports.
Military Aviation -Involves using military aircraft and
other flying machines. It is usually done for national
security, warfare, logistics deployment to military
personnel, and other military purposes. It may include
carrying civilian passengers who need to be evacuated
or repatriated.
Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin- The more popular
airship, the Zeppelin, was designed by Count Ferdinand
von Zeppelin in 1900. It had a rigid metal framework
and used hydrogen gas.
-The Zeppelins were used for both military and
commercial purposes. The most famous among the
Zeppelins was the Hindenburg. which carried
passengers across the North Atlantic (The Editors of
Encyclopædia Britannica, 2019). It was tragically
destroyed by fire in 1937. That event ended the career
of the Zeppelin as a commercial aircraft.
-Though not very often, blimps can still be seen flying
today in other countries outside the Philippines. It is
used more for advertising and TV commercials than for
other purposes.
Heavier-Than-Air Aircraft Development
Leonard Da Vinci is well known for his artistic
paintings such as the Mona Lisa and the Lost Supper,
his other works have influenced aviation development.
As a young boy, he was fascinated with flight and
studied how birds fly (Williams, 2014). He sketched
flying machines such as the ornithopters. His aviation
designs included machines with a pilot in a prone
position, standing vertically, using arms and legs
(Jakab, 2013).
The gliders that were developed around 1853 are
considered the first successful heavier-than-air aircraft.
Gorn (2001) shared that though most of his designs
were unmanned gliders, British engineer George
Cayley was able to fly his glider across a small valley,
thus earning the privilege of being the first successful
airman. According to Gorn (2001)
Otto Lilienthal studied the ideas of Sir Cayley of how
birds fly as well. He built several gliders and flew
almost 2,000 controlled flights with fixed wing crafts.
His works later influenced the Wright brothers, as well
as other engineers and aviation designers (Early
Gliders, n.d.).
John Stringfellow is another personality in aviation
development. He was an Englishman known in the lace
industry. Due to his fascination with the steam engine,
together with William Henson, they designed the Aerial
Steam Carriage in 1842 (Gray, 2003). Their attempts to
build flying machines powered by lightweight steam
engines were not successful.
Aviation development also happened on the other side
of the world. Lawrence Hargrave was another
Englishman but later lived in Australia. His contribution
to aviation development was the engine that was
powered by compressed air and fuel. In 1889, he
created the compressed air engine using three rotating
cylinders (Inglis, n.d.)
Samuel Langley designed and created pilotless
heavier-than-air crafts in aviation developments from
the New World. In 1896, two of his airplane creations
achieved flight (Langley, 2018). The first airplane
reached 914 meters or 3,000 feet. The second airplane
flew as high as 1,280 meters or 4,200 feet. Both were
unmanned.
The most famous personalities in aviation history are
Orville and Wilbur Wright, bicycle shop owners.
According to Van der Linden et al. (2016), the brothers
successfully flew the Wright glider in 1902. A year
later, in December 1903, the two brothers achieved the
first manned flight with their Wright flyer, giving them
rights to the claim of the first successful manned flight
in history.
The Philippines is known for shipbuilding. The
Department of Trade and Industry (2017) reported
that Philippine-based shipbuilders have exported ships
since 1994. However, the country is not known for
airplane manufacturing. Airline companies will have to
complete their fleet by ordering aircraft from aircraft
manufacturers overseas. Aviation history is viewed
from a different perspective, that is, through milestones
throughout the years.
Aviation came to the Philippines as early as 1911, just
eight years after the successful flight in Kittyhawk. And
commercial aviation followed when the first mail
service was delivered by Tom Gunn in 1914. But
aviation has gone a long way now.
The following firsts were written in the book titled 100
years of Philippine Aviation (1909-2009): A focus on
Airline Management by Dr. Avelino Zapanta, a former
president and chief operating officer of Philippine
Airlines (Zapanta, 2005).
On February 27, 1911, James’ "Bud" C. Mars flew his
red devil biplane 10 miles out of Manila. Though it
seems a simple feat, it was recorded in history as the
first crosscountry flight in the Philippines.
The first Filipino passenger was Gagaban, an Igorot
chieftain flown over Luneta Park (now Rizal Park) by
Lee Hammond on February 12, 1912. But even with a
passenger, it was not a commercial activity. The flight
was during an airshow.
Cora Wong, a nurse from the Chinese General
Hospital, won a popularity contest
whose prize was to fly with Tom Gunn on April 11,
1914. The momentous event made her the first woman
passenger in Philippine aviation history,
Tom Gunn made two other firsts aside from flying
Cora Wong. On the same day, he dropped a bag of mail
for the Manila Post Office. This event proves the
viability of air transportation as a commercial venture.
The next day, on April 12, 1914, Tom Gunn flew to
Guam, bringing with him Rosario Reyes, who was
recorded as the first international passenger.
It was late 1919 when the first airline was established in
the Philippines, Major Joseph E. H. Stevenot and
Alfred J. Croft incorporated Philippine Airways
Service, Inc. (PASI) to operate commercial airmail
between Manila, Cebu, and Iloilo. Other businessmen
followed suit soon after. Below is a table to show the
chronological creation of major airline companies in the
Philippines.
In 1931, the Philippine government saw the need to
create an office to handle aviation matters. The office
was then organized under the Department of Commerce
and Communications (WCC Aviation Company, n.d.)
Grandair (December 1994) - EL & E Aviation
Consultants, Inc. Closed due to constra financial ints
brought about by 1997 Asian contagion.
Air Philippines Corporation (APC) - (October 1990)
Taken over by Philippine Airlines and later renamed
PAL Express
Laoag International Airways (LIA) - (1995) Chaired
by Shirley Ng Stopped operations after a couple of fatal
air accidents.
Significance of Air Transportation
- Rodrigue et al. (2013) wrote that the reason
transportation exists is to remove the distance created
by space. This distance is often determined by man and
physical attributes that include time and topography. He
further explained that the "goal of transportation is
... transform the geographical attributes of freight,
people" (Rodrigue et al., 2013).
- Transportation supports human activities. It connects
countries, regions, and the rest of the world. The
importance of transportation cannot be undermined in
tourism. Tourism involves bringing tourists to
destinations using different modes of transportation.
With this, there is a symbiotic relationship between
tourism and transportation (Page & Ge, 2009, pp. 371
395)
Normal Aircraft - Airplanes categorized as normal
airplanes have the same size as acrobatic planes, that is
having a maximum weight of 12,500 pounds and nine
or fewer passenger seats. The difference lies in the fact
that they have approval for acrobat flights.
Utility Airplanes - The last in the aircraft category list
are the utility airplanes. These planes can also be used
for aerobatics. These aircraft have a maximum of nine
passengers plus pilot seats. The takeoff weight should
not be more than 12,500 pounds.
Acrobatic Airplanes - These are airplanes not
restricted by flight maneuvers. They have a maximum
of passenger seats and do not weigh more than 12,500
pounds or approximately 5,700 kilograms. The
flexibility of in-flight maneuvers allows these aircraft to
perform aerobatics or special stunts, such as rolls and
loops. They are often used in air shows.
Commuter Airplanes - Airplanes of this category are
limited to have 19 or fewer passengers and weigh no
more than 19,000 pounds or 8,618 kilograms. They are
multi-engine and propeller driven. Pomroy (2016)
added that they are typically used for short-distance
travel to and from small airports with short runways.
A point-to-point network is when an airline operates
simple routes. Airlines focus on operating flights
between the origin city to the destination, it is typically
a non-stop flight and is often a direct flight as well
(Difference between a Hub, a Spoke, a Point to Point,
n.d.). Airlines who operate the point-to-point service
limit their responsibility of bringing passengers to the
arrival city of the flight. If the passengers have a
different final destination, it will be another point-to-
point leg
Another network model is hub and spoke. The bicycle
wheel is an example of a spoke where the center of the
wheel is the hub. Habas (2019) wrote that airlines have
capitalized on the model of the hub and spoke. Airlines
use the larger and busier airports as their hub. The
smaller or regional cities feed their passengers to the
hub. Airlines use the hub and service more frequently
and destinations from there. The spokes are also known
as feeder flights. HUB
Space tourism is a new niche tourism trend that gives
the traveler the experience of being an astronaut.
Henderson and Wai (2019) explained that tourists may
want to have this experience mostly for recreation or
leisure but may also be for business purposes. In the
study of Reddy et al. (2009), motivations that will drive
people to do space travel include being able to view
Earth from space, having a feeling of weightlessness,
experiencing super highspeed travel, having an unusual
experience, and being able to contribute to science
(Henderson & Wai, 2019)
International Air Transport Association
IATA is a group organized by 57 International airlines
in 1945, and by 2020, it has 290 member airlines, 480
strategic partners, and 100,000 accredited travel and
cargo agencies (IATA Members, n.d.). Though IATA is
an association, they have regulatory functions over their
members.
- IATA was involved in the development and
improvement of the global airline industry. Among the
different sectors of the tourism industry, air
transportation is the sector that is probably the most
organized. This can be attributed to the standards set by
IATA.
International Civil Aviation Organization is a United
Nations specialized agency, established by UN member
states in 1944 (About ICAO, n.d.). In 2020, there are
193 member states (or countries) that include the
Philippines. It was created to administer and govern the
Convention on International Civil Aviation, also known
as the Chicago Convention (The History of ICAO and
ICAO (pronounced as ahy-key-o) the Chicago
Convention, n.d.). They were tasked to formulate
policies for the safe, efficient, secure, economically
sustainable, and environmentally responsible civil
aviation.
Philippine Regulatory Bodies Civil Aeronautics
Board (CAB)
The Civil Aeronautics Board or CAB is a Philippine
government agency with a mandate to ensure the
economic well-being of air transportation in the country
(Civil Aeronautics Board, n.d.). With this mandate, it is
like IATA, which is also concerned with the economics
of air transport. The CAB's economic role is to ensure
that domestic airlines offer priced airfare. It also sees to
it that competition among the carriers is fair. Airlines
need to get the CAB's approval if they have airfare
increase or decrease.
Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines or
CAAP is another Philippine government agency for air
transportation. If CAB has a mandate on the economic
aspect, CAAP is tasked to secure the technical and
operational aspects of the airline industry. Republic Act
9497 stated six mandates for CAAP One of the
mandates given to CAAP is the responsibility for the
maintenance of airports.