RP to renegotiate air pacts

RP to renegotiate air pacts

MANILA (DPA): The Philippines plans to renegotiate air agreements with four Asian countries to ensure that Philippine Airlines (PAL) will not face unfair competition amid efforts to revive the flag carrier's operations, officials said Wednesday.

Foreign Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs Franklin Ebdalin, also a member of the Civil Aeronuatics Board, said the new talks with Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore are scheduled to start within the month.

Ebdalin noted that current air agreements with the four countries are too liberal, which according to the Securities and Exchange Commission has resulted in the loss of 1 billion pesos (US$27 million) in revenues a year for PAL.

The agreements, which were negotiated under the Philippines' open skies policy, allow the airlines of the four countries to service passengers from Manila and bring them to a third country destination and vice versa.