Air Juan Puerto Galera Seaplane Base

The closure of the Air Juan Puerto Galera Seaplane Base was not due to an issue with the base itself, but was a direct result of the parent company, Air Juan Aviation, Inc., suspending and ultimately ceasing all of its operations. The primary cause was the catastrophic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the travel and tourism industry. With international and domestic travel restrictions imposed in March 2020, Air Juan's business model, which relied heavily on tourist travel to island destinations, became financially unsustainable. The company suspended all flights and eventually entered liquidation, leading to the permanent closure of all its routes and bases, including this one.

The site is no longer an active seaplane base. The ICAO identifier PH-0214 is defunct. The physical location, which is a specific water area within Puerto Galera Bay (near Sabang Beach), has reverted to general use. The waters are now used for regular maritime activities common to the area, including recreational boating, diving, snorkeling, and ferry traffic. Any minimal shore-side infrastructure that was used by Air Juan, such as a small private dock or reception area at a partner resort, has either been removed or repurposed for general resort activities. There is no remaining dedicated seaplane infrastructure at the location.

The Air Juan Puerto Galera Seaplane Base was a significant component of a modern, niche aviation service in the Philippines. Air Juan was a pioneer in re-establishing commercial seaplane travel in the country, offering a fast and luxurious alternative to traditional land and ferry transport. This base provided a direct link for tourists from Air Juan's hub in Manila Bay directly to the heart of Puerto Galera, a major international tourist destination famous for its beaches and diving spots. Operations typically consisted of scheduled and chartered flights using a fleet of modern Cessna Grand Caravan EX amphibian aircraft. The service catered to high-end tourists, reducing travel time from Manila from over 4 hours to approximately 30 minutes. The 'base' itself was not a traditional airport but a designated water landing zone in the bay with a small, dedicated dock or beaching area, often in partnership with a local resort, for passenger embarkation and disembarkation.

There are currently no known official plans or prospects for reopening this specific seaplane base. The original operator, Air Juan, has ceased to exist. For the base to become active again, a new airline would need to establish seaplane services to Puerto Galera. While other boutique airlines operate in the Philippines (e.g., Sunlight Air), they have not announced scheduled seaplane routes to this destination. The potential for a future seaplane service remains, given Puerto Galera's popularity and the convenience of air travel. However, it would require a new operator to see a viable business case, secure aircraft, establish local partnerships, and obtain the necessary permits from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP). As of now, there are no active proposals to do so.