PH, Switzerland sign new air agreement

The Philippines and Switzerland are seeking to revitalize commercial aviation ties with the signing of a new air deal.

According to the Department of Transportation (DOTr), officials from the two countries sealed a new air services agreement that was last revised more than two decades ago in 1994.

Under the agreement, the Philippines and Switzerland agreed to expand flying rights aimed at increasing air traffic for both countries. This included coveted fifth freedom traffic rights that may be exercised at points in Europe and Asia. A fifth freedom right allows an airline to stop and pick up passengers in a country that is not its own home country and then proceed to a third country.

“Switzerland is a key component for good air access by serving as the origin or destination of fifth freedom operations. Thus, it was agreed that for designated carriers of both the Philippines and Switzerland, fifth freedom traffic rights may be exercised at points in Europe and Asia, both as intermediate or beyond points,” said Manuel Tamayo, transportation undersecretary for aviation.

Also agreed upon were seven weekly flights each for Swiss and Philippine air carriers between Zurich and Manila.

“These will be increased to 14 frequencies each side one year after the date of signing of the memorandum of understanding,” the DOTr noted.

The DOTr separately sealed a memorandum of understanding containing the draft of a new air services agreement between the Philippines and Thailand.

While no added details were given on the draft, the DOTr said the end goal was aligned with multilateral agreements with neighbors in the region to open up “travel, tourism and trade” among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

“The parties have, thus, declared that the passenger and cargo capacities between the Philippines and Thailand are now without restriction, in keeping with the Asean Multilateral Agreement on Air Services, the Multilateral Agreement on Full Liberalization of Passenger Air Services and the Multilateral Agreement on Full Liberalization of Air Freight Services,” the DOTr noted. —MIGUEL R. CAMUS