From startup dream to skies above: how Ryna Brito-Garcia became the Philippines’ Youngest Airline CEO

Dhaka: While the Philippines counts a notable number of women CEOs across industries, aviation has long remained a male-dominated stronghold. That narrative changed decisively when Ryna Brito-Garcia emerged as the country’s only woman airline chief executive—achieving the milestone even before turning 30.

Ryna founded Sunlight Air in 2019, driven by a practical challenge: limited air connectivity to Coron, Palawan, a key tourism destination and home to her family’s hospitality ventures. Rather than taking a conventional role within the family business, she chose the more demanding path of building an airline from scratch. Armed with an academic background in marketing and entrepreneurship and hands-on experience in startup environments, she set out to create an aviation venture tailored to the needs of leisure travelers.

The airline began modestly, with just a three-member team. In its formative stage, Ryna personally handled nearly every aspect of the operation—from regulatory approvals and aircraft induction to operations, sales, and marketing. The pressure was intense, compounded by long hours and the added scrutiny of being both young and female in a traditionally male-heavy industry. Questions around credibility and visibility were frequent, but she countered them by assembling a team of seasoned aviation professionals, blending industry expertise with entrepreneurial agility.

That collaborative foundation proved pivotal. Sunlight Air steadily expanded and today employs more than 200 people, carving out a niche by connecting travelers directly to resort destinations while supporting the broader tourism ecosystem.

As the airline matured, Ryna’s role evolved from day-to-day operational control to strategic leadership. She now focuses on long-term vision, cross-team collaboration, and innovation. Among Sunlight Air’s standout initiatives is Passenger Perks, a program that turns boarding passes into discount gateways for partner hotels, restaurants, and attractions—effectively linking aviation with local tourism and enterprise development.

With a strong management team in place, Ryna has also achieved a healthier work–life balance. Outside aviation, she channels her creativity into travel, diving, dining, and fashion, including a bespoke women’s suit line. More significantly, she has come to view her youth and gender not as obstacles, but as strengths—bringing empathy, adaptability, and a customer-centric perspective to airline leadership.

Ryna Brito-Garcia’s journey is not just a personal success story; it is a quiet but powerful shift in Philippine aviation—one that continues to challenge conventions and open the skies to a new generation of women leaders.

-V