SEAIR seeks Hong Kong, Macau seats from Clark

MANILA, Philippines - Low-cost carrier Southeast Asian Airlines (SEAIR) wants seat entitlements for two Chinese administrative regions, as part of a plan to offer international flights. SEAIR has asked the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) for 2,520 seat entitlements to Macau per week and the same number of seats to Hong Kong from the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark, Pampanga. If approved, the airline will fly twice daily to each destination and twice back. In April, the Philippines was given a total of 11,950 seat entitlements a week for Macau, 6,300 of which were allotted to Clark. Clark also received 6,300 seat entitlements for Hong Kong last month. Additional flights to Hong Kong and Macau are expected to ease congestion in these routes coming from Manila. Airlines interested in the seats should apply with the CAB based on their requirements. Other airlines that have shown interest in the additional entitlements are Tan-led Philippine Airlines (PAL), Gokongwei-owned Cebu Pacific and Yao-owned Asian Spirit. Cebu Pacific Vice-President for Marketing Candice Iyog said the low-cost carrier "is very interested in those flights." She said the airline already flies to these routes from Manila, but would like to fly from Clark as well, once it establishes a base there. Ms. Iyog did not say how many seats they plan to seek. — Paolo Luis G. Montecillo, BusinessWorld