PH eyes 3 more air deals within the year

The Philippine government expects to wrap up air talks with three more countries this year as it seeks to open up new opportunities for local carriers, a top official of the Civil Aeronautics Board said.

CAB deputy executive director Porvenir Porciuncula said in a recent interview that the agency was set to start negotiations with Ethiopia, Israel and South Africa for air agreement before the end of the year.

CAB is now finalizing the schedule for the air talks with Ethiopia, Porciuncula said.

He said discussions with Ethiopia would  likely be held in August.

“They want to start as soon as possible,” Porciuncula said, referring to CAB’s counterpart in Ethopia, which is located in the northeastern portion of Africa.

“It’s their airlines that are interested in these flights. They know their market so they must have seen something,” he added.

The CAB executive noted that Ethiopia was strategic given its proximity to Saudi Arabia and some parts of North Africa, which were becoming major destinations for overseas Filipino workers.

The agency also plans to conclude an air service agreement with South Africa, thus covering two major hubs within the continent.

The CAB recently concluded successful air negotiations with the governments of Brazil and Macau.

Recent talks with Australia, however, did not result in a new deal due to unresolved issues, CAB executive director Carmelo Arcilla earlier said.