Ramos backs creation of regional airline<\/p>\n
MANILA (AFP): President Fidel Ramos yesterday endorsed the
\ncreation of a joint Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippine airline
\nto serve the region, saying it would be a demonstration of
\nregional cooperation.<\/p>\n
Speaking before aviation professionals, Ramos said \"aviation
\ncan help flesh out and advance the East ASEAN (Association of
\nSoutheast Asian Nations) Growth Area concept that we are
\npursuing.\"<\/p>\n
\"I am sure that if we succeed in operating a transnational
\nairline that could well be called BIMP or Brinmaphil or
\nMaphilinbru airlines ... we will put in place a unique
\ncooperative project for countryside development and demonstrate
\nto the world our capacity for regional cooperation.\"<\/p>\n
Ramos also said he welcomed \"the recommendations to liberate
\nour skies, that is allowing the entry of other carriers.\"<\/p>\n
But he added that \"liberalization however must be carried out
\nas we redouble our efforts to maintain the dignity and character
\nof our flag carrier outside our shores.\"<\/p>\n
This was an apparent reference to Philippine Airlines (PAL),
\nwhich is now controlled by private investors but which remains
\nabout 40 percent state-owned. PAL has been suffering from a sharp
\ndrop in income.<\/p>\n
Some of the private owners of PAL have been calling for the
\nscrapping of some unprofitable international routes and have
\nopposed plans to acquire new planes to service these routes but
\nsome government officials and their appointees in PAL argue that
\nthe routes should be retained.<\/p>\n
Last month, the government lifted PAL's near-total monopoly
\nover domestic routes by allowing two new airlines to operate.
\nPAL, however, argues that with such competition, they should also
\nbe allowed to raise their fees or drop unprofitable domestic
\nroutes.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ramos-backs-creation-of-regional-airline-1447899208",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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