RP, Thailand agree on amended air services pact

Posted on July 29, 2008

THE Philippines and Thailand successfully negotiated an amended air pact over the weekend.

Under the amended air services agreement (ASA) between the two countries, the seat entitlements for Manila-Thailand route went up by 1,700 more from the current 3,700, said Civil Aviation Board (CAB) deputy executive director Porvenir Porciuncula in an interview.

The CAB is one of the members of the panel. The others are from the departments of Transportation and Communications, Foreign Affairs, Tourism and Trade and Industry, and representatives from the airline companies.

The successful air talks held on July 24 and 25 also led to the opening of new points outside of Manila, added the CAB official.

Carriers mounting flights to Thailand from Clark have been allotted a total of 8,700-weekly-seat entitlements. From Thailand to Clark, both panels agreed to grant another 8,700-seat entitlements.

“We agreed that both sides should be allocated 8,700 seats per week. In total, there are 17,400 seats per week in Clark,” said Porciuncula.

For air cargo, the new ASA allows up to 700 tons per week for Clark-Thailand route.

“For Clark, everything is new. That is for both passenger and cargo. We do not have an agreement in place before. The same in Davao, which is also a new point outside of Manila. Davao-Thailand route can field up to 2,110-seat entitlements every week,” added the CAB official.

Seat entitlements for Cebu-Thailand route was also increased by 1,250 from the current 850-weekly- seat entitlements.

“We can already apply the new entitlements administratively.

This means that we can now process the applications of our airlines that are interested to increase its flights or would want to service Thailand from Clark or from Davao,” added the CAB official.

He said Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines and Asian Spirit have already informed the board of their respective plans to mount additional flights to Thailand.

“For Asian Spirit, which has never flown to Thailand before, it is waiting for the arrival of its new aircraft. Cebu Pacific has informed us it would add flights, while PAL, I think, plans to add more flights there in two months,” added Porciuncula.

Next month, the panel will pursue similar negotiations with Iran and Malaysia.

“Iran air talks is set on August 4 and 5. This will be a new ASA. For Malaysia, we have proposed August 19 and 20, but we have yet to send our invitation,” he said.

The Philippines-Thailand air pact is the fifth since the start of the year.

On July 10 the Philippines and the Netherlands have agreed to amend the ASA.

From the current four weekly flights, carriers operating the Manila-Netherlands route have been allowed to mount seven flights per week, or an increase of three flight entitlements.

Carriers flying to new points such as Clark, Cebu and Davao can now mount seven weekly flights to the Netherlands.

In June the air pact between the Philippines and Hong Kong was amended.

Under the new air pact, Philippine carriers can fill up to 15,000 seats per week for flights to Hong Kong from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, up to 6,300 weekly seats for Clark to Hong Kong flights; and up to 2,500 seats per week from Cebu and other airports outside of Manila.

Previously, seat entitlements between Manila and Hong Kong stood at 13,000 per week. For Cebu to Hong Kong flights, only 2,300 passengers per week were allowed.

There were also no flights from Clark and other remaining airports then.

The Philippines secured last month 32 flights per week, eight of which went to Clark, during the concluded RP-Cambodia air talks held in Manila in June.

In May the country’s air panel was granted two more passenger flight entitlements to Vancouver in Canada.

The additional entitlements will help PAL mount more flights and eventually operate to the East Coast, and even possibly revive its San Diego route.