Qatar Airways gets additional flights under new air agreement

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines on Wednesday announced the addition of four more weekly flights between Doha and Manila by Qatar Airways starting October this year.

In a statement, CAAP said the Philippine delegation headed by Undersecretary Manuel Antonio Tamayo inked a new memorandum of understanding with the Qatari delegation led by Abdullah Al Subaey which brings Qatar Airways flights from Doha to Manila to 18 per week.

Qatar Airways currently operates 14 flights a week to Manila, plus seven flights to Clark in Pampanga as agreed in a separate MOU signed in May 2015.

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines operates four weekly flights to Doha from its Manila hub.

CAAP said the new MOU is considered a "landmark" deal since it includes the addition of Qatar Airways flights to Davao within one year after the start of four additional flights to Manila.

It said direct flights from Doha to Davao would help the city connect with major markets and boost its "emergence as a major economic and commercial hub of the Philippines" since Qatar is connected to 161 international destinations.

"It is perceived that the expansion of traffic rights between the two countries under the new MOU will enhance the connectivity between the two countries that will enable the expansion of trade, investment, services and people to people exchange between the two countries," CAAP said. — Joseph Tristan Roxas/VDS, GMA News