Direct Manila-Taipei flights doubtful

The resumption of the direct Manila-Taipei flights next week may no longer push through as Taiwanese negotiators - backtracking from an agreement reached last month with Philippine officials - refused to fly a limited number of passengers to only one destination.

Well-placed sources at the aviation industry disclosed Taipei applied last Feb. 2 for its permit to operate with the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) so they could have special flights on Feb. 4, the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year.

It can be recalled that President Estrada had announced that the Taiwanese carriers agreed to cut their passenger seating capacity to 4,800 and forfeit their Sixth Freedom rights.

The Jan. 27 provisional agreement supposedly beat the Jan. 31 deadline to abrogate outright the aviation pact between the countries due to failed negotiations.

The sources said they also found CAL and Eva Airways were distributing flyers to prospective customers advertising a Taipei-Manila-Abu Dhabi route, which was a violation of the temporary accord.

Manila has a big clientele for Middle East flights since the region is a major destination for overseas Filipino workers.

On Oct. 1, 1999, the Philippines suspended the Manila-Taipei flights because of the Taiwanese carriers' violations, including flying passengers to a third destination such as the United States.

The sources further averred Tourism Secretary Gemma Cruz-Araneta was lobbying for Taiwan, which they said was disrespectful of the Philippine government's stand.

"We hope she (Araneta) would just shut up," the sources said, adding Mr. Estrada would surely be surprised with the new development.