CAB decision on Emirates could hike flight rates – PIATA

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CAB decision on Emirates could hike flight rates – PIATA

Ed Turner

Removing Emirates' 3rd service between Manila and Dubai could impact ticket prices, warns a group of Philippine travel agencies

MANILA, Philippines – The decision of the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) to remove Emirates Airlines’ 3rd daily flights between Manila and Dubai would jack up ticket prices of the long haul route, a group of travel agents warned on Tuesday, December 16.

Marilu Ngo, president of Philippine IATA Agents Travel Association (PIATA), explained that reducing Emirate’s daily Manila-Dubai routes would mean less travel options amid a growing demand among Filipino and foreign travellers.

“Removing one of Emirates’ third daily flights ultimately means reduced travel options for Filipinos, not only to Dubai and Middle Eastern destinations, but also to Africa, Europe, and Latin America during the peak season month of travel, thus creating a high-demand, limited supply situation that could impact prices as well,” said Ngo.

The Manila-Dubai route is deemed important due to many developments happening in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where some 850,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) live.

By 2020, the population of OFWs in UAE is seen to reach one million, Emirates said in a statement.

Therefore, pursuing increased connectivity between the Philippines and the UAE is strategic, said the carrier.

“This does not take into account travel demand from entrepreneurs and corporates, or international travellers from other global cities who connect in Dubai onwards to the Philippines, which, if included, will increase the projected capacity required on the route to 50 flights a week,” it added.

Emirates was under fire after the CAB found it was selling tickets for its 3rd Manila-Dubai service beyond December 6 this year without approval from the regulator. It faced a fine worth P1.8 million ($40,254.29).

This came after local carriers Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines protested that Emirates should no longer increase its service capacity at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Emirates, however, clarified that its third daily flight on the Dubai-Manila route had been implemented in January 2013, and therefore integral to their service. – Rappler.com

*$1=P44.72

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