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.