Filipino carriers lobby for KL rights

[Robert 0]

http://www.flightcentric.com/FC/FCNews/Filipino-carriers-lobby-for-KL-rights-2153.aspx

 

The Philippines' local carriers are lobbying for greater a capacity on flights to Malaysia despite the intimidating presence of AirAsia, Asia’s largest budget airline.

 

Zest Air is aiming to offer 900 seats Manila to Kuala Lumpur weekly this year increasing to 1260 seats flight a week by next year after filing a petition with the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB).

 

However, the decision of CAB to restrain air talks is delaying ZestAir’s pursuit to launch new routes, due to the traffic applications by other local carriers AirPhil, Seair and Cebu Pacific to the board.

 

AirPhil has applied for a 1260 seats Manila- Kuala Lumpur weekly route and an additional 720 seats a week for flights from Manila to other points in Malaysia.

 

SeaAir has also requested rights to 2520 seats a week for Clark – Kuala Lumpur and another 1260 seats for Clark to Kota Kinabalu.

 

Meanwhile, 720 seats per week are being sought by Cebu Pacific for Manila – Kuala Lumpur.

 

CAB executive director Carmelo Arcilla said the board will not open a negotiation for additional seats for flights to Malaysia although local carriers are filing large number of requests.

 

“We just have to distribute the seat entitlements that we have. We’re still studying and conducting hearings to come up with a rational decision in granting the seats. We only have limited seats and there is also a limited market,” Arcilla said.

 

Malaysian carriers have been given unlimited traffic rights by the Philippines last June. It was the first grant by the country after Aquino administration approved the open-skies policy in March.

 

To counterbalance, Philippine carriers have been allowed 2520 seats between Manila and Kuala Lumpur weekly.

[Tamizi Hj Tamby 1]

Oh my; didn't knew that Philippines also have the CAB.Wonder if the Philippines CAB have a similar role with the US CAB prior to the announcement of the Airline Deregulation Act 1978.

[Waiping 12]

SEAIR used to fly to BKI with Dornier equipment IIRC.

[Mike P 0]

PR still unable to make the return...

[flee 5]

MANILA, Philippines - AirAsia Philippines and South East Asian Airlines (Seair) can soon fly to Malaysia from Clark, Pampanga.

 

The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) has recommended giving flight entitlements to AirAsia Philippines and Seair to fly to several points in Malaysia.

 

"The board made recommendations to allot flight entitlements to both airlines to fly to Malaysia out of Clark. We are still finalizing entitlements that are to be awarded to other airlines to mount flights from Manila," said CAB executive director Carmelo Arcilla.

 

The recommendations will be formally approved after the board submits it in writing.

 

Last Thursday, the CAB recommended that AirAsia Philippines can mount Clark-Kuala Lumpur flights from the 1,260-weekly seat entitlements assigned to it. AirAsia Philippines is the local unit of the Malaysian low cost carrier AirAsia.

 

Seair's application for a total of 5,400 weekly seat entitlements to Malaysia was deemed approved by the CAB.

 

The CAB recommended Seair be given 2,520 seats per week to mount flights between Clark and Kuala Lumpur; 1,260-weekly seats to be utilized for flights between Clark and Kota Kinabalu; 540 seats per week to Kuching; another 540 seats to Penang; and the same number of seats to Langkawi.

 

However, the applications of other airlines that sought entitlements for the Manila-Kuala Lumpur-Manila routes are still pending.

 

Airphil Express, the budget airline owned by Philippine Airlines, applied for 1,260-weekly seat entitlements to fly the Manila-KL route, and an additional 720 seat entitlements for other points in Malaysia.

 

Cebu Pacific, which already has 10 weekly Manila-KL flights, also applied for additional 720 weekly seats.

 

The Philippines and Malaysia amended their air services agreement last June. From 2,300 weekly seats, both countries agreed to add 2,520 more seats. They also agreed on unlimited traffic rights to airports outside of Manila, in the spirit of Executive Order no. 29, the policy implementing an open skies.

 

Arcilla said the RP-Malaysia air services agreement is the first air pact sealed for the year.

 

"Also, this is the first grant of unlimited traffic rights to our secondary gateways outside of Manila under EO 29," he said.

 

Under the rules of the said EO, third, fourth and fifth freedom rights are allowed. This means that foreign airlines can mount flights to and from any airports in the country, except the already congested Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), without restrictions on frequency, capacity and type of aircraft.

 

Source

[Mike P 0]

Good if they could serve Manila - Kuching - Manila route since tourists arrival from the Philliphines could record some 5 to 6K per month, nearly 3 times more than Sabah's.

 

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