Sky high with Royhle Air

I love that Negros Oriental has its own airport serving Dumaguete, and it’s one of the many things that enticed me to move here.

Unfortunately, when it comes to direct flights, I thought we were limited to Cebu and Manila. Likewise, I also thought that Cebu Pacific and Philippine Air Lines were the only options for booking tickets.

That all changed when I recently discovered Royhle Air Way Charter, a private company that operates right out of Dumaguete’s Sibulan Airport, as well as Cebu’s Mactan Airport.

I had the opportunity to sit down with Capt. Madhu Puliyankalath, head of Training at Royhle Flight Training Academy, and got to take an aerial tour from Dumaguete to Apo Island with Capt. Jemy Chacko.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that Royhle Air Way Charter is a convenient and economical alternative for tourists, travelers, business people, and even thrill-seekers.

Royhle opened in 2013 as a flight training academy for pilots to get their commercial license, and later branched out into the charter flight business.

They now have seven airplanes used for flight training, and another four for charter flights, including three-seater Cessna 172 & 182’s, a five-seater Beechcraft Baron 55, and an eight-seater Piper Navajo Chieftan.

So where does Royhle fly? One of their most popular flights is a quick hop to Siquijor, which only takes 10 minutes in the air, and provides a unique experience for tourists.

Royhle also flies to Bohol, several parts of Mindanao, and Cebu, a preferred route for business travelers who need to get in and out efficiently without the waiting and delays of commercial flights.

But the flight that most interests me (on my Bucket List for next year) is their charter flight from Dumaguete to Bantayan Island in Cebu. The flight takes a little over an hour, and will cost P12,000 per person.

Or, if you fly a Royhle charter from Cebu to Bantayan Island, it would take around 40 minutes and costs P4,999 per person.

If you’re like me, your next thought may turn to Royhle’s safety record. In fact, they haven’t had one single incident in their history of operation.

Royhle adheres to the strictest inspection and licensing mandates in the industry, even going above and beyond the safety protocols of commercial flights. Their maintenance team travels to the U.S. every year to undergo training and re-certification, and that’s where all of their planes and parts come from, too.

Now that you’re confident in their safety and professionalism, you don’t have to wait until you have a destination in mind because Royhle offers aerial tours above Dumaguete.

Taking off from Sibulan airport, they cruise along the coast low enough that you can identify each building along the boulevard, then over the beach resorts in Dauin, and past lush green countryside and mountain ranges out the right window. Next, the airplane banks left over open waters and out to Apo Island, where they’ll circle low a few times.

The tour takes about 30 minutes and costs P5,997 for three people as a promo fare. That’s a fantastic value for a truly special adventure, and I promise you the photos and videos you’ll get are jaw- dropping.

These aerial tours also fly over Sumilon Island and Oslob, where you can view whale sharks from up in the air. Royhle Air can also take you on an aerial tour over Bohol, including the Chocolate Hills and Panglao Island, as well as Siquijor Island.

Royhle’s Cessna airplane fits three passengers, but if there are only two of you, they will gladly accommodate you.

If you’re like me, you’ve seen a few signs for Royhle Air Way Charter at the airport or around town but haven’t really looked into it.

Next week: I’ll tell you about Royhle Air’s flight training academy and other operations.

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