11/02/12, 22:42:35 EST

  e-mail this article

Airline pushes 'open skies' sans Manila

business.inquirer.net

Southeast Asian Airlines (SEAIR) is pushing for a variant of the open skies policy that will include all Philippine gateways except Manila and does away with airline designation.

CEO and president Avelino L. Zapanta told reporters on the sidelines of the Airbus A380's test flight here that a partial open skies policy would fast-track negotiations on air services agreements.

"We can just declare our skies as open except in Manila since it is already saturated. Interested airlines may be allowed in whether designated or not, provided their government will promise to allow our airlines into their country," Zapanta said.

"If our airlines are not ready to serve their country yet, at least the local carriers can reserve the right to fly there in the future," Zapanta said.

Zapanta also called on the government to abolish airline designation.
"Airline designation restricts smaller players. Airline designation is the greatest collusion being done by big airlines and government to control air traffic rights," he added.

He noted that the Philippines could draw more than three million tourists a year if smaller players were freely allowed to serve more routes alongside the designated or "flag" carriers.

"PAL for example was resisting the increase of seats to Korea because they don't have that much demand there. But what if other players can serve that route?" he said. "I'm not saying this because we are a small player."

He admitted, though, that SEAIR has not been able to register triple or quadruple growth "as it should" because it was not a designated airline.

 Printable Version  | published Oct 16, 2007