Seair seeks add'l seat entitlements to HK

MANILA, Philippines - Low-cost carrier South East Asian Airlines Inc. (Seair) is seeking the go-signal from the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) to reallocate additional seat entitlements to Hong Kong.

The CAB is set to hear the application for reallocation of entitlements to Hong Kong filed by Seair on Aug. 7. The budget airline is seeking 504 seat entitlements.

The CAB is mandated by Republic Act 776 to regulate, promote and develop the economic aspect of air transportation in the Philippines and ensure that existing policies are adapted to the present and future air commerce of the Philippines.

The law also vests supervision, jurisdiction and control over all carriers engaged in air commerce in the Philippines as well as their property, equipment, franchise and facilities.

“Pursuant to the provisions under RA 776, as amended, notice is hereby given that Seair have filed with the CAB a petition for reallocation of additional entitlements to Hong Kong a total of 504 seat entitlements under Route II in accordance to the existing confidential memorandum of understanding between the governments of the Philippines and Hong Kong,” CAB hearing officer Maria Cecilia Cawilan stated in a not ice of hearing.

Seair is the second-oldest airline in the Philippines with a firm foundation in leisure travel. Since 1995, it has been flying passengers to some of the most beautiful destinations in the world.

The airline has a fleet of five, including two A319s and three A320s. It plans to expand its domestic operations to seven cities nationwide including Iloilo, Bacolod, Kalibo, Tacloban, Davao and Puerto Princesa.

It also also plans to launch domestic flights to Naga, Legaspi, Bohol, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, Gen. Santos and Tawi-Tawi as well as international flights to Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Indonesia. It currently flies from Clark to Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Kota Kinabalu and Kalibo.

Tiger Airways Holdings Ltd. of Singapore, through Roar Aviation II Pte Ltd, is buying a 40-percent stake in Seair for $7 million.

This would be Tiger’s second major investment in Asia after acquiring a 33-percent stake in Mandala Airlines of Indonesia last January.