PAL to seek Duterte help on Kuwait 5th freedom right

MANILA, Philippines – National carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) intends to seek the help of the incoming administration in its request to the Kuwaiti government to be allowed to service more passengers particularly overseas Filipino workers.

While PAL has already sought the help of the current administration to push for its request to be allowed to exercise its fifth freedom right under a bilateral agreement with Kuwait, PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista told reporters there is a plan to also bring up the issue with the new administration.

“Of course we will revive or discuss this with the new administration,” he said.

Bautista earlier sent a letter to Foreign Affairs Secretary Jose Rene Almendras to call on the government to intervene on the issue.

“We respectfully request for the support and assistance of the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) in taking the appropriate measures and initiatives that would help PAL secure the needed Kuwaiti authorization for our Dubai-Kuwait fifth freedom rights, including diplomatic protests and special representations with the Government of the State of Kuwait, as may be warranted,” Bautista said in the letter.

Despite a bilateral air services agreement between Kuwait and the Philippines which allows designated airlines to carry out fifth freedom flights or the right to pick up passengers from a foreign country after flying from country of origin, and to bring them to another country or final destination, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation of Kuwait has prevented PAL from enjoying such.

PAL launched flights to Kuwait from Manila last Jan. 17, to serve overseas Filipinos in the Gulf country.

While PAL is not allowed to use its fifth freedom right, Kuwait Airways previously exercised its fifth freedom right on the Kuwait-Manila route by carrying passengers originating in Bangkok and traveling to Manila until it was suspended by the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) effective March 27.

Even as CAB suspended Kuwait Airways’ fifth freedom privileges, the agency has allowed the Kuwaiti airline to increase its flights to Manila to eight from six per week.

PAL has yet to receive response on its request from the DFA with the government preparing for the change in leadership.

Bautista said PAL is hopeful it could get the support of the incoming administration to push for the grant of its fifth freedom right.

“We are very hopeful under the Duterte administration, there will be a defined aviation policy,” he said.

PAL also wants the new administration to focus on the development of airport and aviation-related infrastructure to allow local carriers to grow.