Philippines, Rwanda ink air pact

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines inked an air pact with Rwanda, the country’s fifth agreement of such kind with a nation on the African mainland.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said the Philippine Air Negotiation Panel led by the Department of Foreign Affairs signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Republic of Rwanda following two days of negotiations.

The agency said the MOU contains the text of an air service agreement, which is the country’s first bilateral agreement with Rwanda and the fifth air pact with a nation on the African mainland, after Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya and South Africa.

The DOTr said the agreement grants seven weekly frequencies for the designated airlines of both contracting parties, and allows pure cargo operations of up to 400 tons per week.

The agreement also allows designated airlines to market services on third-country carriers, for as long as the latter have the appropriate route rights and are registered to a state that allows such operations.

Last year, the Philippines upgraded its air services agreement with Switzerland and also inked a memorandum of understanding with Thailand containing the draft of a new air services agreement that will replace the old one signed in 1953.

The country and Australia likewise agreed in September last year to enhance air connectivity in line with efforts to boost the economy and tourism industry of both countries, while in June, the country and Papua New Guinea inked a new air services pact which increases the entitlements of designated carriers between Manila and Port Moresby, as well as in other points in the two countries.