Photo courtesy of Sunlight Air
In a crowded aviation industry, Sunlight Air is attempting to choose intimacy over scale.
The plane on the tarmac in Clark is smaller than the jets parked nearby. Its propellers are visible, and the cabin fits fewer passengers than a standard commercial aircraft. Boarding is quick, with little crowding in the aisle or competition for overhead bins. And by the time the door closes, the crew appears familiar with many of the people on board.
This is the daily setup of a Sunlight Air flight, and while most air travel today operates at high volume, the airline has built its model around smaller capacity and shorter routes. “We’re able to accept less people, 70 in one flight,” says founder and CEO Ryna Brito-Garcia. “That allows the interactions from our cabin crew and ground crew to be much more personalized and authentic.”
The airline initially began operations in 2019 with a focused route between Manila and Coron, at a time when options to the island were limited. At the time, it operated as a charter service before adding more destinations over time. During the pandemic, the company adjusted its operations and introduced new partnerships and routes, while maintaining its original aim of linking travelers to less-served locations in the country.
That approach might also shape the experience on board.
On many domestic flights, a 40-minute trip can feel routine: seatbelts fastened, service completed, and passengers on their way. Here, the shorter passenger list allows crew members more time to interact with those on board. They can greet passengers by name, mark special occasions, and complete service without rushing.
“If your aircraft was so big, it wouldn’t be possible to serve each and everybody,” she explains, “but with Sunlight Air, we’re still able to offer in-flight snacks, juices, coffees, and food. That’s a very big differentiator.”
She notes that the difference is not only operational. A smaller cabin changes the dynamic between crew and passengers. “There are more thank yous, more appreciations,” she says, “and there’s actual human interaction happening in flight, so the atmosphere is just a lot warmer.”
Passenger accounts often reflect this. A recent traveler experienced a brief delay but described regular updates from ground staff and a calm atmosphere on board. “What she appreciated most was how proactive everyone was,” Ryna mentions.
The airline operates with a fleet chosen for regional routes and a team of about 200 employees. Before the company was founded, the team came into the industry with a specific intention: “We really thought hard: what is the one thing still missing in this industry? Our answer was an airline that goes beyond transportation, an airline that offers experience and service.” The aircraft type also supports that plan. The ATR planes Sunlight Air uses can land on shorter runways in local destinations such as Coron and Siquijor, where larger jets cannot operate.
Asked what she wants passengers to take away from the experience, Brito-Garcia answers directly. She says, “I hope they remember their experience as genuine, authentic, personal, and truly Filipino.”
For details on Sunlight Air’s fleet, destinations, and flight experience, visit https://www.sunlightair.ph/
