RP, US near open skies pact

The Philippines and the United States are now finalizing an open skies policy agreement which will allow unlimited passenger flights of their respective airlines between the two countries, Air Transportation Office (ATO) chief Adelberto Yap disclosed yesterday.

Yap said that the final stage of the talks on the long-delayed RP-US Air Transport Agreement will be held in Washington on Feb. 18 and 19.

The US, he said, has been pushing for an open skies policy between the two countries and in the forthcoming meeting of US and Philippine transport officials, the formal bilateral agreement is expected to be signed.

Yap explained that the Philippines will benefit from the open skies policy as it would allow the country’s flag carrier, Philippine Airlines (PAL), to fly anywhere in the US.

As of now, PAL flights are limited to Honolulu, Guam, Los Angeles and San Francisco. PAL passengers bound for New York, Washington, or the midwest are forced to take connecting flights from San Francisco and Los Angeles or Honolulu and fly back to the three American states for them to take PAL on their way back to Manila.

With the signing of the bilateral agreement, PAL will be able to fly its passengers as well to New York or any other US destination it deems profitable.