Philippines airlines are asking the government to revoke the extension of a temporary permit allowing Dubai-based carrier Emirates to continue operating seven flights a week between Manila and Dubai, saying this exceeds the maximum number of flights permitted under the existing bilateral air agreement.
Flag carrier Philippine Airlines and its sister airline PAL Express and budget carrier Cebu Pacific Air and its unit Tiger Airways Philippines in a joint statement expressed their “grave concern” over the 30-day extension until December 26 that the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) has given to Emirates.
The carriers said they have previously objected to the earlier approval by CAB granting Emirates a 30-day extension from October 27 to November 26 the seven weekly flights “presumably by virtue of its authority to grant extra frequencies to any foreign carrier for a period of not more than 30 days.”
With the new extension, the airlines noted that CAB has already given Emirates an extension of 60 days.
“The Philippine carriers believe that the issuance of the extended grant to operate additional seven flights only worsens the current injurious situation, as Emirates had long been selling seats on these flights without prior CAB approval as required by RA (Republic Act No.) 776,” the statement said.
The local carriers claimed that Emirates had been selling flights until October 2015, or beyond CAB’s extended deadline.
“This constitutes blatant disregard of the CAB’s authority and thus the Philippine carriers respectfully appeal to the CAB to take the immediate and necessary action to cause this foreign carrier to cease and desist its defiance of the Philippine government, in the interest of fair competition and the growth of the Philippine aviation industry,” the airlines said.
The carriers also claimed that under Section 3 of Executive Order No. 29, CAB has no authority to grant extra frequencies in Manila. The E.O. provision says foreign carriers can increase their capacities at all the country’s airports except at Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
“If Emirates truly wants to expand its service into the Philippines, it has every opportunity to put up new flights to Clark, Cebu or other Philippine international airports outside of Manila,” the carriers pointed out.
“We look to CAB to work with the Philippine air carriers in growing the Philippine aviation industry and allow us to compete with foreign carriers on a level playing field,” the airlines added.
The statement noted that PAL, Cebu Pacific, and PAL Express are capable of immediately mounting direct flights to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The Confidential Memorandum of Understanding between the Philippines and UAE provides for a maximum of 14 frequencies weekly for the Middle Eastern country’s flag carrier.
The two countries are expected to meet early next year to renegotiate and expand the terms of the existing air service agreement upon the request of Emirates.
Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
