Palace Raises ‘Open Skies’ Threat Anew

By GENALYN KABILING
October 1, 2010, 4:45pm
Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang Friday threatened anew to adopt an “open skies” policy if Philippine Airlines (PAL) management and disgruntled labor unions would not reach an amicable settlement.

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said President Aquino would open the country’s skies to other airlines in the interest of the riding public in case PAL labor dispute is unresolved.

Lacerida, however, said they remain hopeful that PAL management and flight attendants would settle their differences to ensure smooth operations of the national carrier.

“The President has said he would rather that the parties amicably settle this issue. What is important to the president is for the concern for the riding public. If that will not be fixed, he will not sacrifice, he will not prejudice the riding public,” he said in a press briefing at the Palace.

“Sinabi na ng Pangulong Aquino na kapag hindi maayos ang hidwaan, mapipilitan niyang imadali ang open skies (President Aquino said if the conflict is not resolved, he will be forced to hasten open skies),” he added.

The Department of Labor and Employment will reportedly intervene in the labor row between PAL and the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines (FASAP) in a bid to avert the planned strike next month.

Conciliation talks between the two parties were held in recent weeks but remain unproductive.
Lacierda said the possibility of allowing other airlines to take over PAL flight routes similar to what happened in 1997 is part of the government plan if the PAL conflict is not resolved. He noted that the interest of the riding public is the President’s paramount consideration on the matter.

 “It happened before. It can happen again for the purpose of not prejudicing the riding public,” he said.
President Aquino initially warned the implementation of the open skies policy at the height of the dispute between PAL management and some pilots last August.

The President claimed that open skies would be good for domestic tourism, especially since the government plans to attract three million to six million tourists in two years.