DOTr concludes air service deals with India

The Department of Transportation (DOTr)-led Philippine Air Panel recently concluded three air services agreements in a row, signing a Memorandum of Understanding with India the other day (July 12, 2018) after clinching expanded air services deals with Papua New Guinea and Switzerland.

Before the air services agreement with India, only 7 weekly flights were allowed between the two countries.

The renegotiated pact now allows for 28 flights between points in one country to the other's capital, in addition to three other major cities.

For Philippine carriers, this means points in the Philippines to New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai, while India has yet to nominate three other major cities aside from Manila that Indian carriers will service.

Philippine carriers will also be allowed unlimited flights between any Philippine gateway and 18 other destinations in India.

The two parties also retained Bangkok as a midway point for carriers of both sides, with the possibility of disembarking and taking on passengers not originating from or destined for their own territories (5th Freedom operation in aviation law).

The new accord likewise allows the operation of third-country carriers on behalf of the parties' carriers as long as the former have the route and traffic rights through their own countries granted under agreements with India and the Philippines.

A more liberal cargo provision completes the new package of air rights.