Tighter rules for airlines flying overseas planned

The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) is tightening the rules governing Philippine carriers that intend to mount international flights for the first time.

This is in line with efforts to clamp down on “fly-by night” operators, according to CAB executive director Carmelo Arcilla.

The move comes at a time when the country’s aviation industry starts to regain lost ground, following its removal from a European Union blacklist in July. It is expected that the United States aviation regulator would lift the restrictions it earlier imposed on the Philippines within the year.

Arcilla told the Inquirer in an interview last week that the CAB board had adopted a resolution that would require domestic operators a track record of at least five years and a minimum fleet of five aircraft before they would be allowed to fly overseas.

He said the rules were only a draft at this point but the plan was to finalize them within the next two months.

There are currently no such minimum requirements, Arcilla said, noting that the CAB had to consider regulations in other jurisdictions, some of which were stricter than what the CAB was proposing.

“There is a need for airlines intending to operate abroad to prove their capabilities,” he said.

He said there were pending application for international flights but he declined to name the applicants.

The tightening of the CAB rules could affect plans of Southeast Asian Airlines (Seair) International Inc., which had applied for International Air Transport Association and International Civil Aviation Organization codes.

Seair International was granted its certificate to mount domestic flights only late last year.

“It is restrictive, we will discuss the implications on our plans,” company president Avelino Zapanta said.

“It will run counter to the DOT’s [Department of Tourism] aim to increase tourism,” Zapanta said in a text message when asked for comment.

He added there were many arguments against the planned guidelines and that “we will come out with it if (CAB) will push that policy.”

Zapanta used to head Seair Inc., before the airlines’ owners sold a minority stake and turned over management of the airline to Tiger Airways of Singapore last year.

Seair International, which operates independently, would continue to serve the so-called missionary routes like Batanes.

Zapanta said Seair International had been operating a Dorneir328 for passenger charters and a Boeing 737 for freighter and cargo charters. Its other Dornier planes are being refurbished and will be ready for regular passenger operations by the end of 2013.