7 March 2014
[Updated]
[Updated]
New Zealand agreed on Thursday the expansion of flight frequencies to 21 per week from the present three as well as fifth freedom traffic rights going to and from Australia to the Philippines paving the way for the long anticipated flight of Philippine Airlines (PAL) to Auckland.
The parties also agreed on third country code sharing for seamless services between the two countries, via cooperative agreements with third country airlines.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Undersecretary of Transport and Communications Jose Perpetuo M. Lotilla from the Philippines and Principal Adviser of the Ministry of Transport Sonya van de Geer from New Zealand on March 6 at the Ministry of Transport in Wellington.
The Philippines delegation was led by Undersecretary of Transport and Communications Jose Perpetuo M. Lotilla with Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand Virginia H. Benavidez, Executive Director of the Civil Aeronautics Board Carmelo Arcilla and officials from the Department of Tourism, Department of Foreign Affairs and Civil Aviation Board as members and representatives from Philippine Airlines as observers.
The New Zealand delegation was headed by Principal Adviser of the Ministry of Transport Sonya van de Geer with officials from the Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade as members and representatives from Air New Zealand, New Zealand Airports Association and Tourism Industry Association of New Zealand as observers.
The Philippines delegation was led by Undersecretary of Transport and Communications Jose Perpetuo M. Lotilla with Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand Virginia H. Benavidez, Executive Director of the Civil Aeronautics Board Carmelo Arcilla and officials from the Department of Tourism, Department of Foreign Affairs and Civil Aviation Board as members and representatives from Philippine Airlines as observers.
The New Zealand delegation was headed by Principal Adviser of the Ministry of Transport Sonya van de Geer with officials from the Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade as members and representatives from Air New Zealand, New Zealand Airports Association and Tourism Industry Association of New Zealand as observers.
With the arrangement, PAL can form code share agreements with Qantas, Air New Zealand and vice versa, with PAL as the operating carrier.
The Philippine Flag Carrier requested the Philippine Government to initiate talks with New Zealand after the government of Australia agreed for fifth freedom traffic rights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Darwin if the third country agrees to open its doors.
For the Philippine side, it granted New Zealand equivalent fifth freedom traffic rights on any point to China.
Carmelo Arcilla, Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) Executive Director said PAL intends to fly to Auckland next year with new generation A330-300 aircraft either via Brisbane, Melbourne or Sydney.
