Flag carrier Philippine Airlines opposes new air talks between the Philippines and Qatar because of the current overcapacity in this market, a top executive said Monday.
“Our position is that there is over capacity. There should be no additional [seat entitlements] just like our position during the last air talks [with United Arab Emirates],” PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista said, ahead of the scheduled talks between aviation authorities of the two countries.
The airline announced the suspension of its Abu Dhabi flights starting July 8 due to “route assessment initiatives.”
Rival Cebu Pacific also announced the suspension of its services to and from Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Doha in Qatar starting next month because of overcapacity of seats in these markets.
The air talks between the Philippines and Qatar are set on May 30 to 31 in Manila. The last round of air talks between the two countries in 2015 resulted in an increase of entitlements from 8 to 14 flights a week.
“In the new round of air talks, the Philippines will explore the possibility of new flights to other airports outside Manila, especially to Davao and for Qatar Airways,” Civil Aeronautics Board executive director Carmelo Arcilla said.
Qatar Airways currently operates Manila to Doha and Clark to Doha routes. In the Philippine side, PAL and Cebu Pacific also fly Manila to Doha.
Earlier talks between the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates to amend their air services agreement bogged down after both countries failed to resolve some issues.
The Philippines and UAE expanded air rights entitlements to 70 flights per week between Manila and Dubai in 2012 and between Manila and Abu Dhabi in 2015.
The UAE-Philippine aviation market is currently served by Emirates, Etihad Airways, Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific.
Other airlines such as Air Arabia, RAK Airlines, Air Philippines, Philippines Air Asiamay also avail of the negotiated entitlements.
