Emirates pushes for third Manila flight

BOTH SIDES WILL DISCUSS RESUMPTION OF DAILY SERVICE

Emirates plans to discuss its third daily flight to Manila, which was axed last month, when the UAE and Philippine aviation authorities meet to discuss flights between the two countries, according to the Philippine Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB). However, no time frame has been announced.

Emirates was forced to stop operating the service last month after an extension from the Philippine Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) expired in January. Emirates had operated the service on an extension basis after a codeshare agreement with Philippine Airlines ended last October.

“The reinstitution of a third daily frequency by Emirates … is a policy issue that will be properly dealt with through the holding of a new round of Air Consultation Talks between the UAE and the Philippines,” Carmelo Arcilla, CAB executive director, told Gulf News by email.

Arcilla did not say when CAB officials will meet with UAE counterparts at the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

Two weeks ago, Emirates told Gulf News in an emailed statement it was “disappointed” and encouraged the CAB “to reconsider their decision”. The airline was also hit with $40,627 (Dh149,101) in fines from CAB for selling tickets up to March 2015.

Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific have both lobbied CAB against holding talks with UAE counterparts.

Frequencies

“We feel quite strongly the 28 frequencies is sufficient to serve the market between the Philippines and the UAE,” Alex Reyes, General Manager of Cebu Pacific Long Haul Division, told Gulf

News by phone. The UAE and the Philippines are each granted 28 weekly flights divided up among their respective airlines under existing bilateral agreements.

The UAE has exhausted the agreement with Emirates and Etihad each operating twice daily services.

Brendan Sobie, chief analyst at CAPA — Centre for Aviation, told Gulf News by email that it is in the interests of the Philippine carriers “to keep Emirates at two daily flights”.

Emirates had operated a daily service to Clark International Airport, about 100 kilometres north of Manila, until March last year. The route was dropped after a “review of the airline’s operations,” Emirates said at the time.

Clark International has an open skies policy and is not affected by bilateral agreements.

28 Weekly flights each granted to UAE and Philippines.