PH, Brazil forge air agreement to mount flights

Daily flights between the Philippines and Brazil, South America’s largest country, may start soon following the approval of new air rights between the two countries this week.

Under the new air agreement between the Philippine and Brazilian governments, a total of seven flights a week may be mounted between Manila and any point in Brazil. The agreement also allows an unlimited number of flights between any point outside of Manila to any destination in Brazil, the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) Wednesday said.

There are currently no direct flights between the Philippines and any country in South America. The new deal is the first ever air service agreement (ASA) between the Philippines and Brazil.

Negotiations for the new air deal were initiated by the Philippines, at the request of flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL), which has plans to expand in North and South America, Europe, the Middle East and Australia.

The airline is in the process of acquiring 100 brand new planes from European firm EADS and American company Boeing Co. This came about after the change in management at the airline, which was acquired by conglomerate San Miguel Corp. from the group of Lucio Tan last year.

Also, fifth-freedom rights between the two countries have been included in the deal, said Carmelo Arcilla, CAB executive director. This will allow local airlines to fly to other destinations in Latin America via Brazil. This also gives Brazilian carriers the right to fly to other points in Asia through the Philippines.

Last year, Brazil was identified by the government as one of the priority countries for increased flights. It was the only South American country on the list.

The administration has been trying to forge new air rights with other countries to prop up the country’s tourism industry as it hopes to raise income levels and create more jobs in the countryside.

By 2016, the government hopes to receive 10 million visitors to the country each year—higher than the three million that came to the Philippines in 2010, President Aquino’s first year in office.

Brazilian tourists bound for the Philippines outnumber all other visitors from any country in South America, the CAB said last year. Also, Filipinos flying to Brazil are not required to secure visas. But transit visas are needed if they fly through countries like the United States.

Direct flights are unlikely because Brazil is 17,000 kilometers away from the Philippines, which is beyond the range of existing jetliners.