Cheaper air fares, more flight options soon – DOTC

Travelers in the Philippines will soon be able to access broader flight options with cheaper air fares, following the President's signing of certain protocols of the ASEAN Multilateral Agreement in Air Services (MAAS) last week.

According to the Department of Transportation and Communications, President Benigno Aquino III on February 3 signed the Protocols 5 and 6 of the MAAS, allowing Philippine air carriers to fly unlimited frequencies to and beyond the capital cities of ASEAN nations.

This will "lead to better and more efficient connectivity and translate to more competitive fares and services," the department said in an emailed statement.

The development will also open business, employment and education opportunities within the region for Filipinos, DOTC Secretary Emilio Joseph "Jun" Abaya noted.

"This will enhance regional trade and investment opportunities for Philippine businesses that are looking to expand their markets. It will also provide better access to Filipino individuals, such as professionals and students, who wish to explore job and educational opportunities in the region," he said.

The protocols also allows foreign airlines to increase their flights to Manila and other cities in the country.

"Just as it will encourage more visitors to come to the country, Filipinos will also enjoy a wider array of flight options and ticket prices to the rest of the ASEAN," Abaya added.

To achieve this, the DOTC said that it, along with the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) will assist Philippine air carriers to secure additional flights with each of the nine ASEAN member states, targeted within the next six months.

The MAAS is part of the ASEAN Roadmap for Integration of Air Transportation Services  which lays down the foundation for the ASEAN Single Aviation Market which is seen to foster connectivity within the region.

"To meet the expected impact of greater tourist and economic air activity, the DOTC continues to modernize the country's airport infrastructure," it said, citing its efforts to rehabiltate terminals 1 and 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Airport construction has also begun in Cebu, Bohol, and Puerto Princesa. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA News