Ease business travel restrictions, govt told

A business chamber has joined the clamor of a group of airline operators to ease restrictions on international business travel amid the relaxed lockdowns implemented in the country.

In a statement on Thursday, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) urged the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) and the Cabinet Economic Cluster to consider the Air Carriers Association

of the Philippines’ (ACAP) call “to gradually remove the quota for international passenger arrivals, resume scheduled international flights for business travel, allow selected local air travel, explore the possibility of entering into bilateral arrangements with selected countries to fast-track [the] processing of nonleisure travels, and reopen select tourist destinations in the country to international tourism.”

“A status quo could prove fatal

not only to airline operators, but [also] to airline suppliers and the whole air transport supply [that rely] on continuing to deliver new equipment and supplying spare parts and maintenance services,” PCCI President Benedicto Yujuico said in the statement.

This, he added, could also be disastrous to businesses, “a number of which are small and medium-sized enterprises” that produce or supply vital items to each flight — “food products, cutlery, sanitary paper, water, blankets, [and] cleaning and maintenance services.”

“These…suppliers of goods and services are dependent on the operation of the [airlines] to remain in business.”

According to the PCCI chief, restrictions could be eased subject to health, safety and documentary protocols and other considerations.

“We understand a sufficient number of testing and quarantine facilities have been set up in international airports. At the same time, the IATF-EID is also looking at allowing passengers to take their Covid-19 test abroad one to two days before their departure,” Yujuico said.

“As an active member of the Confederation of Asia- Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the International Chamber of Commerce, PCCI can assist in the proposal to secure a letter of invitation to establish the nature of travel of business people,” he added.

To support the continued operation of local airlines, the group also endorsed ACAP’s proposal to extend a preferential policy for carriers mounting direct or connecting flights in international airports in the country in the allocation of quota for non leisure travelers.

“This Philippine air carriers-first allocation should be extended to foreign business travelers once restriction on business travel is lifted,” Yujuico said.

The aviation industry is among the sectors hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic. Citing data from the International Air Transport Association, PCCI said losses of local carriers and the tourism sector had so far reached $4.48 billion.

Potential job losses in the industry for this year alone is projected to reach 548,300.