The Department of Tourism said it welcomes the recently concluded successful negotiations on air service entitlements between the Philippines and Turkey,
It said the significant development in connectivity would boost tourism in the country.
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said bumping up bilateral flights would further position the Philippines as an ideal destination for international travelers, especially during the summer season where a huge influx of tourists is expected to visit the country.
“The Department of Tourism has identified the improvement of connectivity as one of its core objectives to strengthen the tourism industry. Thus, we recognize and commend the efforts of our counterparts from the transportation sector led by the Department of Transportation for helping us improve our air services partnerships that would give our would-be visitors the improved tourist experience that they deserve,” she said.
The Department of Transportation announced that beginning the International Airport Association Summer Season 2023, passenger air service entitlements for the Philippines and Turkey on the Manila-Istanbul route would double to 14 flights from the previous seven flights a week on each side, with half or seven of the total Turkish entitlements to Manila to be on a co-terminal basis with Cebu.
This was a result of the consultations between the Turkish Civil Aviation and Philippines air consultation panel composed of officials from DOTr, Civil Aeronautics Board, Department of Foreign Affairs, DOT, Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Labor and Employment held in Istanbul on March 28 to 29, 2023.
Frasco said the decision to pick Cebu as co-terminal would also recognize the services and sustainability efforts made in the award-winning Mactan-Cebu International Airport which was awarded as Asia’s Best Airport in the under 5 million passenger category of the prestigious Routes Asia this year.
She also underscored the benefits provided by the Turkish Airlines to the Philippines, which was also a longtime partner of the DOT in servicing European and Mediterranean source markets into the country for years.
She said the Philippines and Turkey first executed an air services agreement in 2010.