Phl, Macau ink new air pact

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines and Macau inked a new air service agreement raising seat entitlements between the two countries by 56 percent, a ranking official of the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) announced yesterday.

CAB executive director Carmelo Arcilla said in a text message that the new air pact increased the entitlements to 7,020 per week from the current 4,500.

Carriers flying to Macau include national flag carrier Philippine Airlines, budget airline Cebu Pacific, and low cost carrier AirAsia Zest.

The Philippines pursued a new round air talks with Macau to amend the air pact signed last year as it is set to become a gateway to Hong Kong as well as other cities in China.

“It is envisioned that the current infra projects in Macao that would connect Macao by land to Hong Kong and other nearby Chinese cities would increase the catchment area of Macau and therefore expand market opportunities in Macau,” he said.

Aside from boosting tourism, he explained that the massive infrastructure projects in Macau would pave the way for the hiring of more Filipino workers.

“The new infra projects in Macau will also increase requirements for Filipino workers,” Arcilla added.

Cebu Pacific president Lance Gokongwei earlier said the budget airline is looking at increasing its capacity to Macau.

The agreement with Macau is the sixth air agreement signed by the Philippines this year.

The Philippines so far concluded air talks with France last January, Singapore last February, New Zealand last March as well as Myanmar and Canada last May.

Air talks with Malaysia scheduled last April 3 and April 4 were called off as authorities in Kuala Lumpur were preoccupied with the search of the missing Beijing bound Malaysia Airline Flight No. MH370.

Last year, the Philippines signed air agreements with Japan, Macau, Brazil, Australia, Israel, and Italy.

The Aquino administration is pursuing air talks as part of its open skies policy. Under Executive Order No. 29, airports other than the Ninoy Aquino International Airport would be opened to more foreign traffic.

This is in line with the target to lure 10 million tourists by 2016.