DOTr eyes new air routes, more flights to UK, US

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is aiming to launch new routes and expand flight networks from the Philippines to the United Kingdom (UK), United States, Australia, Thailand and India, which is in line with its goal of ramping up linkages to international destinations.

DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista, during the Aviation Summit 2024 event in Pasay City on Wednesday, said the Civil Aeronautics Board was planning to conduct air consultation talks with authorities in said countries.

“Through these air talks, we intend to open new international routes or add more flight frequencies on existing routes to provide travelers flexibility in going to more international destinations while attracting drones of foreign tourists to explore the country,” the transport chief said.

At present, no local carriers have direct flights to Europe as well as the United Kingdom. Philippine Airlines (PAL) used to serve direct flights to London but were discontinued when the pandemic struck in 2020.

PAL is also the only local carrier to have direct flights to the United States, comprising Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Honolulu and Guam.

Both the flag carrier and Cebu Pacific provide direct flights to Australia. Their routes are Manila to Melbourne, Sydney and Perth.