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MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines and Hong Kong signed on Wednesday, October 15, a new air service agreement that would increase air traffic between the two trading partners.
The new air pact allows 30,000 seats per week, or double the current capacity of 15,000, Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) executive director Carmelo Arcilla said.
“The last air talks were held in 2008. It is hoped that the new agreement will usher in a new era of growth in the bilateral aviation relationship between the Philippines and Hong Kong, especially that the irritants that stood in the way of growth have simmered down,” Arcilla said.
Arcilla was referring to the August 2010 hijacking of a tourist bus in Manila, where 9 Hongkongers were killed. The incident caused a major diplomatic rift between Hong Kong and the Philippines. In addition, China – of which Hong Kong is part of – has an ongoing maritime dispute over the West Philippine Sea or South China Sea.
Apart from the 100% increase in seating capacity, both countries have agreed on unlimited capacity in all international airports in the Philippines outside the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila. The previous agreement only allowed 4,300 seats per week to Clark.
Both national flag carrier Philippine Airlines Inc. of taipan Lucio Tan and budget airline Cebu Air Inc. (Cebu Pacific) of business tycoon John Gokongwei have several flights to and from Hong Kong.
The air pact with Hong Kong is the 9th air services agreement signed by the Philippine air negotiating panel this year. It has so far signed air pacts with Ethiopia, South Africa, France, Singapore, New Zealand, Myanmar, Canada, and Macau.
The panel is composed of officials from the CAB and the departments of Tourism, Transportation and Communications, and Foreign Affairs, as well as from the Clark International Airport Corporation and representatives of Philippine carriers.
The CAB official said the air panel is scheduled to hold air talks with Malaysia and Australia before the year ends.
The Philippine air panel concluded air talks with Macau, Brazil, Israel, Italy, and Japan last year.
The Aquino administration is pursuing air talks as part of its “pocket” open skies policy. Under Executive Order 29, airports other than the Ninoy Aquino International Airport were opened to more foreign traffic. – Rappler.com
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