PH, PNG ink expanded air connectivity deal

-- The skies separating the Philippines and Papua New Guinea just got narrower after a deal effectively bolstering air connectivity between the two countries was signed on Thursday, following two days of talks.

The air agreement, which essentially permits more people to fly between the two countries, takes place just more than a month after the bilateral partners inked a joint agro-industries development agreement.

The negotiations saw the Department of Transportation (DOTr), through the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), lead the Philippine Air Consultation Panel in the push for the expansion of entitlements for the designated carriers of both parties.

The country’s air services agreement currently allows designated airlines to fly a total of 1,500 seats per side per week between Manila and Port Moresby, and 3,000 seats between other points in the Philippines and Papua New Guinea -- a big leap from the 600 and 1,500 agreed upon in 2011.

This expansion in air connection comes hot on the heels of Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill’s state visit in May, which resulted in the two nations committing to cooperate more closely in fishing and agriculture, particularly tuna processing and the development of rice and coconut farming.

Papua New Guinea will also host the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in November this year.

CAB Executive Director Carmelo L. Arcilla led the Philippine air panel, representing Transport Undersecretary for Aviation Manuel Tamayo. ED Arcilla was joined by Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs Leo Herrera-Lim, and Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary for Competitiveness and Ease of Doing Business Rowel S. Barba. (DOTr-CAB PR)