CAB slates talks with 7 countries

MANILA, Philippines — The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) is planning to hold air talks with seven countries this year.

CAB executive director Carmelo Arcilla said in a telephone interview the country has requested to hold air talks with India, Hong Kong, Japan, Papua New Guinea, Canada and Australia, while it has received an invitation from Maldives.

“We have made requests but none has so far, confirmed a date for the talks,” he said.

The Philippines is looking to hold air talks with the six countries due to the interest of local carriers to strengthen their presence in those territories by expanding operations.

Arcilla said Japan has signified its interest to hold air talks with the Philippines but the two parties were unable to set a date.

Apart from the six, Arcilla said the country would also want to hold air talks with Maldives.

“The target is to have the air talks (with Maldives) in April, but there is no date yet,” he said.

The last air talks conducted by the Philippines was with South Korea in November last year.

During the air talks, the Philippines and South Korea signed a new air services agreement which gives each country 20,000 seats per week between Manila and all international airports in South Korea.

Under the new agreement, all airlines of the Philippines authorized to operate between Manila and all international airports in Korea can utilize a combined total of 20,000 seats per week.

The same number of 20,000 seats per week is likewise available for all the Korean carriers authorized to operate between Manila and all international airports in Korea.

It also provides unlimited traffic rights for the authorized airlines of both countries between all international airports in the Philippines outside Manila and all international airports in Korea.

South Korea has consistently been the country’s top source of foreign tourists.

Last year, 1.6 million South Korean tourists visited the Philippines.