Manila, Seoul sign new air pact

The Philippines and South Korea have agreed to increase the number of flights operating between the two countries in response to strong demand.

Civil Aeronautics Board Executive Director Carmelo Arcilla said that a Filipino delegation recently flew to Seoul, South Korea, for the latest air talks.

The agreement was to increase air traffic entitlements between Manila and all international airports in Korea to 20,000 seats a week for each country from the current 13,500 seats.

Arcilla said this meant that all airlines of the Philippines authorized to operate between Manila and all international airports in Korea could use a combined total of 20,000 seats a week.

The same number of 20,000 seats a week was also available for all the Korean carriers authorized to operate between Manila and all international airports in Korea.

Moreover, the agreement allowed unlimited traffic rights for the authorized airlines of both countries between all international airports in the Philippines “outside Manila and all international airports in Korea.”

“The expanded air traffic rights in Manila is intended to address the increased demand for air services between Manila and Korea,” Arcilla said.

“The unlimited air traffic rights outside Manila is in line with the Philippine government’s policy to develop airports outside Manila and spur the economic development of new tourism, trade and economic centers outside Manila,” he added.

There are currently eight Korean air carriers and five Philippine air carriers operating between the two countries.

South Korea has been the single-biggest source of foreign visitors to the Philippines.

According to the Department of Tourism, Korea was the country’s top source of arrivals and has accumulated 686,630 Korean visitors from January to May 2017 with a market share of almost 24 percent.