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MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines and Macau signed a new air service agreement raising seat entitlements between the two countries by 56%, the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) announced Wednesday, June 18.
The agreement increased seat entitlements to 7,020 per week from the current 4,500, CAB Executive Director Carmelo Arcilla said in a text message.
Airlines flying to Macau include legacy carrier Philippine Airlines, budget airline Cebu Pacific, and low-cost carrier AirAsia Zest.
The Philippines pursued a new round of air talks with Macau to amend the air service pact signed last year.
Macau is set to become a gateway to Hong Kong as well as other cities in China.
“It is envisioned that the current infrastructure projects in Macau that would connect Macau by land to Hong Kong and other nearby Chinese cities would increase the catchment area of Macau and therefore expand market opportunities in Macau,” Arcilla stressed.
Apart from boosting tourism, Arcilla explained that the massive infrastructure projects in Macau would lead to the hiring of Filipino workers.
“The new infrastructure projects in Macau will also increase requirements for Filipino workers,” Arcilla added.
The agreement with Macau is the sixth signed by the Philippines this year.
The Philippines signed air service agreements with France in January, Singapore in February, New Zealand in March, and Myanmar and Canada in May.
In 2013, the Philippines signed agreements with Japan, Macau, Brazil, Australia, Israel, and Italy.
Air talks with Malaysia scheduled April 3 and April 4 were called off as authorities in Kuala Lumpur were preoccupied with the search of the missing Beijing-bound Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.
The Aquino administration is pursuing air talks as part of its open skies policy.
Under Executive Order No. 29, airports other than the Ninoy Aquino International Airport would be opened to more foreign traffic.
The new air agreements will help address the country’s target of attracting 10 million tourists by 2016. – Rappler.com
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