Talks to revise the air service agreement between the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates bogged down, even as congestion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport hampered the country’s ability to accommodate more flights to the capital.
“The talks ended in a deadlock. The parties were close to agreeing to some exchanges, including the commitment of Emirates to operate to Davao and additional flights to Manila, but the details could not be resolved as of yet,” Civil Aeronautics Board executive director Carmelo Arcilla said.
“So the parties would meet again in the future to resume the discussions,” he said.
The air talks were held in Cebu on April 26 and April 27.
The Philippines and the UAE expanded air rights entitlements to 70 flights a week between Manila and Dubai and Abu Dhabi in 2012 and 2015, respectively.
Local airlines earlier opposed the requests of Middle Eastern carriers to expand flights to Manila. The routes between Manila and cities in the Middle East have become highly profitable, given the presence of millions of Filipinos working in those areas.
An industry source earlier said the Philippine government should not grant the request of the UAE airlines for more flights to Manila.
“It would be inconsistent and discriminatory for the government to now take a different approach and allow UAE airlines to expand to Manila. Congestion will be worsened, not just in terms of runway movements but also more passengers coursing through Naia’s overburdened terminals,” the source said.
The UAE-Philippine aviation market is currently served by Emirates, Etihad Airways, Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific.
Air Arabiya, RAK Airlines, Air Philippines, Philippines Air Asia and other airlines may also avail of the negotiated entitlements.
Emirates flies 18 weekly flights between Dubai and Manila while Etihad flies 17 times weekly between Abu Dhabi and Manila.
PAL and Cebu Pacific have daily flights to Dubai and three weekly flights to Abu Dhabi. Both Philippine carriers also operate direct flights to Kuwait, Riyadh and Doha, while PAL additionally flies direct to Dammam and Jeddah.
Other airlines linking the Philippines directly with the Middle East are Saudi Arabian Airlines (from Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam), Qatar Airways (from Doha), Kuwait Airways (from Kuwait City), Oman Air (from Muscat) and Gulf Air (from Bahrain).
