The Philippine capital of Manila is notorious for its debilitating traffic congestion, which is estimated to cost the country more than $105 million a day by 2035 in lost productivity and revenue, according to an estimate from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Singapore-based startup Ascent is pioneering the concept of “chopper commuting” in Asia, having launched its first helicopter ride-sharing service in Manila in April this year. I hitched a ride with Ascent’s cofounders, CEO Lionel Sinai-Sinelnikoff and CCO Darren Tng, to find out more about this game changer.
As players like UberAir and Gotham Air are working to make aerial taxis a viable option to commuting in the United States, Ascent wants to democratize helicopter travel, targeting executives and leisure travelers in Southeast Asia where urban gridlock wastes time and money. A chopper ride ranges from $132 to $209 between hubs in the Makati business district, Quezon City, Tagaytay and the Manila and Clark airports.
