RP, HK agree to increase air passenger, cargo capacities

MANILA, Philippines – Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza announced yesterday that air talks between the Philippines and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region have ended with an agreement for an increase in both passenger and cargo capacities between the two states.

Mendoza, at the conclusion of the two-day air talks held at Clark, Pampanga, said the air services agreement that was forged involved an increase in passenger and cargo capacities in Manila to Hong Kong and Cebu to Hong Kong; and the opening of a Clark to Hong Kong route as well as another point in the country to Hong Kong still to be identified by the Philippine government.

“This is in line with President Arroyo’s thrust to strengthen the super regions to sustain economic growth and to spread progress to all the areas of the country. The growing demand for the RP-Hong Kong route requires the increase in the air capacity for this route,” Mendoza said in a statement.

“We have to keep up with the demand to remain competitive and to further boost our economy,” Mendoza added.

The increase in the air passenger capacity on the Manila to Hong Kong route was from 13,000 to 15,000 passengers per week; and Cebu to Hong Kong from 2,300 to 2,500 per week.

The Clark to Hong Kong route that was opened has a capacity of 6,300 passengers per week and any other point from the country to Hong Kong has 2,500 passengers per week.

For air cargo, Mendoza said that the Manila to Hong route would now have a capacity of 400 tons per week from the previous 300 tons and 1,400 tons per week for the Clark to Hong Kong route.

Doroteo Reyes II, Transportation Undersecretary for Civil Aviation, said the increased flights in the said RP-HK routes would further boost tourism.

“This increase in the RP-Hong Kong air capacity answers the challenge of air congestion for this route in Manila. It will also boost tourism and other related businesses,” Reyes said.