A 30 per cent equity stake of PhilJets Aero Services is being acquired by WCC Aviation Holdings, marking a significant step in the group's expansion across the Philippine aviation industry.

Signed by Raymond Patrick V. Guico, president of WCC Aviation Holdings, and Thierry Tea, chairman of PhilJets, the agreement brings together two organisations with complementary capabilities and a shared commitment to the long-term development of Philippine aviation.

The investment expands WCC Aviation Holdings' presence beyond aviation education, pilot and airline operations training into business aviation, aircraft management, charter flights, aircraft maintenance and technical support.

Through WCC Aeronautical and Technological College (WCC ATC), WCC Pilot Academy and Sky Pasada, WCC Aviation Holdings has developed a portfolio spanning several key areas of aviation. PhilJets adds established operational, commercial and technical expertise in aviation services, serving customers in the Philippines and across the ASEAN region. The investment builds on a relationship between WCC and PhilJets spanning approximately a decade.

For PhilJets, the deal represents an opportunity to strengthen connections between aviation education, technical expertise and real-world operations, creating opportunities to develop talent and support the next phase of growth in Philippine aviation in the age of AI.

Since 2021, PhilJets has served as the certified distributor centre for Safran Helicopter Engines in the Philippines, supporting more than 100 helicopters under support-by-the-hour contracts covering 13 engine types.

With more than 50 years of experience in education, World Citi Colleges (WCC) has established a substantial educational presence in the Philippines. Across the group, it currently serves more than 20,000 students across its 30 hectares of facilities and has a track record of producing more than 200,000 employed graduates across its educational programmes.

Building on this educational foundation, WCC Aviation Holdings brings together WCC ATC, WCC Pilot Academy and Sky Pasada, spanning aviation education, pilot training and airline operations.

This combination provides a foundation for connecting education and training with industry requirements and practical career opportunities. The investment in PhilJets extends this portfolio into business aviation, aircraft management, maintenance, technical services, flight dispatching, trip support and round handling.

By bringing these complementary capabilities closer together, WCC aims to support a more integrated aviation ecosystem that develops Filipino talent while creating opportunities for sustainable business growth.

“Our vision is to connect the full journey, from educating aviation professionals and training pilots to serving passengers and growing aviation businesses,” remarks Guico, president of WCC Aviation Holdings. “With WCC ATC, Pilot Academy and Sky Pasada, we have built a foundation across education and operations. This investment in PhilJets advances that vision, creating opportunities for our businesses to grow and for Filipino aviation talent to move forward.”

PhilJets brings a broad range of capabilities to the partnership, covering expertise in fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft operations, including business jets and helicopters.

The company has developed technical capabilities in avionics equipment, engines and airframes, supported by longstanding relationships with international aerospace and equipment manufacturers.

Thierry Tea, founder and chairman of PhilJets adds: “PhilJets has developed capabilities to manage, support and operate a multi-types fleet of aircraft from Gulfstream to Bombardier or Cessna Citation as well as Airbus and Bell Helicopters. As the Safran Helicopter Engine representative for civil and commercial customers, PhilJets has been maturing in the last five years along with the growing portfolio of corporate clients under service. We are excited with this new partnership to further strengthen the aviation ecosystem and build on stronger safety, quality and innovation. We are delighted to enter a new era of opportunities in the Philippines aviation industry.”

Building the next generation of aviation professionals is another important area of alignment between the two groups, helping connect classroom learning with the practical demands of the industry.

PhilJets has established training programmes to give students and fresh graduates practical, hands-on experience in aviation operations and technical functions. To date, more than 300 on-the-job trainees (OJTs) and Management Training Program (MTP) participants have gone through PhilJets' programmes, gaining exposure to the professional environment and practical requirements of the aviation industry. PhilJets former trainees have subsequently joined or been hired by organisations including Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines or Lufthansa Technik, while others have pursued careers overseas across Asia, the Middle East and North America.

As air transport and business aviation continue to create opportunities across Southeast Asia, the partnership brings together capabilities that can support the development of the Philippines' aviation ecosystem.

The investment creates opportunities for collaboration including the role that industry-led training can play in preparing young Filipinos for aviation careers including student immersion, professional mentorship, practical training and employment pathways for qualified graduates. Closer industry engagement will help align education and training with operational requirements in fields including flight planning, flight dispatch, aircraft serviceability, maintenance procedures and safety practices. This will give students greater exposure to the professional standards and technical skills required across the aviation industry.

For WCC Aviation Holdings, the investment broadens its aviation portfolio. For PhilJets, it marks a new chapter in its development with a strategic shareholder whose activities can create valuable synergies.

Together, the two groups intend to explore opportunities for collaboration that support business growth, expand professional capabilities, develop Filipino talent and contribute to the future of Philippine aviation.

The Philippines aviation market recorded a compound annual growth rate of 11.5 per cent between 2015 and 2025, and Clark International airport has seen investment in new hangar infrastructure to support long-range business jet traffic, underlining the structural demand that the WCC-PhilJets combination is seeking to serve.