PHL signs new air deal with Switzerland

THE Philippines and Switzerland signed on Tuesday a new air services agreement allowing unlimited flights between the two countries except on the ManilaZurich route.

Department of Transportation (DoTr) Undersecretary for Aviation Manuel Antonio L. Tamayo said in a message to reporters late Tuesday that airlines from both countries may now proceed under no restrictions on service, except for ManilaZurich, where frequencies are restricted to seven a week, to be raised to 14 after a year.

Current limits on Manila-Zurich flights are three times a week.

“The delegations... agreed that the designated airlines of both parties may exercise unlimited direct flights with third and fourth freedom traffic rights between Switzerland and the Philippines, except to Zurich and Manila, for which 7 frequencies per week per side was agreed on. These will be increased to 14 frequencies each side one year after the date of signing of the Memorandum of Understanding,” he said.

The third freedom is the right to offer service between one’s home country and another country, while the fourth freedom is the right to offer service from another country to its home country.

“Switzerland is a key component for good air access to Europe and, aside from being a direct connection, (offers) possible fifth-freedom support or connections for at least 17 European, Middle Eastern, or Asian destinations with which the Philippines has air agreements,” the DoTr said in a statement.

The fifth freedom is the right to offer service between two foreign countries if the flight originates or ends in an airline’s own country.

Aside from air talks with Switzerland, the DoTr said it also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Thailand on Tuesday for a new air services agreement.

While the government refused to give details on the target frequencies and freedom rights for the new air deal, it said the MoU guarantees no restrictions on passengers and cargo capacity between the Philippines and Thailand.

“The agreement… is now aligned with ASEAN multilateral agreements opening up travel, tourism, and trade within and among the 10-country bloc,” it said. —