PHL, Macau sign air pact increasing seat entitlement

As part of efforts to boost tourism and investments, the Philippines and Macau on Thursday inked a new air services agreement increasing flight entitlements.  

The new agreement increases current seat entitlements between Manila and Macau to 4,500 per week from 3,500, said Carmelo Arcilla, executive director of the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB).

Arcilla said the agreement also calls for unlimited seats between Macau and all international airports in the Philippines except Manila.

This was in accordance with President Benigno Aquino III’s Executive Order 29,  which authorized the CAB and the Philippine air panels to aggressively pursue international civil aviation liberalization policies.

Under an earlier agreement, seat entitlements between Macau and other points outside Manila were limited to 10,000 seats.

“Macau is a small but key and important market for the Philippines, being a gateway to Hong Kong and China,” Arcilla said in a text message, noting the agreement will also benefit some 17,000 Macau-based Filipinos.

This is the third air agreement signed by the Philippines this year, following ones with Brazil last month and Australia in April.

Last month, Manila and Sao Paolo agreed allowing seven flights between the two cities each for both Philippine and Brazilian designated airlines. This is on top of unlimited air traffic rights.

In April, the Philippines successfully concluded talks with Australia, where it cemented seven flights per week between Manila and Melbourne.

The Philippines is looking at holding air talks with Canada, France, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Papua New Guinea, Russia, and Taiwan this year.

Last year, the government concluded talks with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Australia, Singapore, and South Korea. — SOA/KBK, GMA News

PHL, Macau sign air pact increasing seat entitlement