PHL, Israel sign updated air service pact

A new air service agreement updating a 62 year-old pact has been signed by the Philippines and Israel on Friday, allowing designated airlines to fly between any point in the two countries. 

 

The agreement gives designated airlines of each country 21 flights per week and paves the way for Filipino carriers to fly indirectly to Europe, Carmelo Arcilla, executive director at the Philippines' Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), said in a text message to reporters. 

 

“Under the new agreement, the designated airlines of each country are entitled to a total of 21 flights per week between any points in the Philippines and Israel,” Arcilla said.

 

The agreement includes three fifth freedom flights per week on one intermediate point in Mumbai and one beyond point in Madrid. 

 

Philippine carriers will be allowed to unload and pick up passengers in India en route Israel, explained Arcilla. It also gives authority to unload and pick up passengers in Israel and to proceed to Madrid. 

 

Arcilla also said the Philippines and Israel agreed on co-terminal and stopover rights for the 21 flights, allowing homegrown airlines to fly to any third country in Europe via a stopover in Tel Aviv. 

 

An air service agreement or a memorandum of understanding was signed by the Philippine and Israel in 1951. It allowed flights by national carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) to the Holy Land in the 1950s and 1960s.

 

Arcilla, however, said the CAB “could not find records” of the entitlement. “Presumably it's a very low number, as was common during that time.” 

 

In 2012, 13,450 Filipinos visited the Israel, while only 5,895 Israelis came to the Philippines. Improved flight connections are seen helping the Philippines attract over 200,000 Israeli tourists bound Southeast Asia. 

 

The Philippine-Israel air pact is the sixth of such agreements signed by Manila this year. The Southeast Asian country snagged similar deals with Japan, Italy, Macau, Brazil, and Australia. 

 

Air talks with Russia are expected to be held within the year.

 

Incoming international passengers totaled 4.4 million in the first half, while outgoing international passengers reached 4.67 million.

 

The Philippines wants to attract 10 million foreign tourists by 2016 in line with efforts to bolster the tourism sector's contribution to the economy. 

 

In 2011, President Benigno S. Aquino III signed Executive Order 29 colloquially known as the Open Skies Policy, allowing the aeronautics board to aggressively liberalize the Philippines' international aviation policy. — SOA/OMG, GMA News