The Philippines and New Zealand agreed to sharply increase flight entitlements between both countries at the end of their successful air talks on March 6-7.
Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) executive director Carmelo Arcilla said both sides agreed to increase flights to 21 a week – or three flights a day – per country, from three flights a week currently.
Arcilla said points outside Metro Manila should be unlimited in line with current Philippine policy and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) multilateral agreements on air liberalization.
The Philippines and New Zealand also agreed to improve fifth freedom rights that would “allow Philippine carriers to operate fifth-freedom [flights] to Australia, and New Zealand carriers to operate fifth freedom to China.”
“Although there are no immediate plans for any carrier to operate direct flights between the Philippines and New Zealand, given the small size of the current market, the enhanced fifth freedom can provide better opportunities for carriers to support start-up operations,” Arcilla said.
Fifth-freedom rights refer to the right or privilege, in respect of scheduled international air services, granted by one state to another state to put down and to take on, in the territory of the first state, traffic from or destined to a third state, the Manual on the Regulation of International Air Transport says.
Both countries also agreed to allow third-country code sharing for their respective carriers.
“Third-country code sharing will allow the airlines to market indirect but more seamless services between the two countries, via cooperative agreements with third-country airlines, which can help develop the market,” Arcilla explained.
This is the third successful air services agreement entered into by the Philippines following air talks with France and Singapore.
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