Emirates seeks P-Noy intervention in 3rd daily flight row

MANILA, Philippines - Emirates is seeking the intervention of President Aquino after the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) decided to end the airline’s third daily flight for the Manila-Dubai route late last month.

Jose Perpetuo Lotilla, Undersecretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), said the Gulf carrier has elevated the case to the Office of the President after CAB denied its petition to further extend its third daily flights for the Manila – Dubai route that expired last Jan. 26.

 “What I understand is that they (Emirates) elevated (the case) to the OP. I am not sure if CAB received anything,” Lotilla said.

According to him, Emirates is probably following the administrative procedure by elevating the case to Malacanang instead of filing an appeal before the Court of Appeals (CA).

 “They should have gone to the CA but they went to the OP. Probably, they are following the administrative procedure,” Emirates said.

President Aquino attended the one-off commercial flight by Emirates using the world’s largest passenger aircraft – Airbus A380 – that landed at the recently completed Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA-3) last Oct. 7.

CAB last October turned down petition of Emirates to use the unutilized frequency of PAL until March this year. The Middle Eastern carrier filed an appeal before the CAB.

While the appeal was pending, CAB granted Emirates a 30-day extension to continue its third daily flight between Manila and Dubai until Nov. 26. The regulator granted a second 30-day extension allowing the Middle Eastern carrier to mount three daily flights in the route until Dec. 26.