BusinessWorld
Posted at 12/02/2010 11:48 AM | Updated as of 12/02/2010 1:34 PM
MANILA, Philippines - Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) said yesterday an “open skies” policy should be “fair and reciprocal,” and should “not unduly place local carriers at a disadvantage vis-a-vis foreign airlines.”
In a statement, PAL said that during a recent public hearing conducted by the House of Representatives’ transportation committee, it pointed out that foreign carriers “enjoy adequate access to Philippine skies, debunking claims there is lack of airline seats to accommodate tourists.”
“What the country really needs are more investments in infrastructure, a stable peace and order situation, and positive image abroad to attract tourists,” said Ma. Socorro Gonzaga, PAL senior assistant vice-president for external affairs. “It’s not the number of airline seats that is the behind the lack of tourist interest in the Philippines but the country’s negative image abroad, specially in the area of peace and order and security,” she added.
Ms. Gonzaga said there are 47.4 million seats available to foreign and local carriers at present.
“However, of these 47.4 million available seats, only 10.97 million seats -- or 23% of total entitlements -- were used by foreign and local carriers last year. Of the 10.97 million passengers that came to the country by air in 2009, only 2.9 million were tourists,” she said.
She said Clark in Pampanga has 25.6 million in seat entitlements yearly, Cebu, 20.7 million; Davao, 20.3 million, and Kalibo in Aklan, Bohol, Palawan and Laoag, 19.6 million.
“In Manila, there are 21.2 million seat entitlements available yearly.
The sum is more than 47.4 million seats because many of the entitlements may be used for different airports, hence the overlap,” she said.
Last month, the government said it would further liberalize the civil aviation industry to increase tourist arrivals. The move is being touted as the long-term solution to the financial woes of PAL, which is facing labor problems.
In October, the Labor department allowed the Lucio C. Tan-led airline to outsource three non-core units to cut costs.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Foreign carriers have access – PAL
Posted on 10:12 PM, December 01, 2010
Business World
FLAG CARRIER Philippine Airlines (PAL) said yesterday an “open skies” policy should be “fair and reciprocal,” and should “not unduly place local carriers at a disadvantage vis-a-vis foreign airlines.”
In a statement, PAL said that during a recent public hearing conducted by the House of Representatives’ transportation committee, it pointed out that foreign carriers “enjoy adequate access to Philippine skies, debunking claims there is lack of airline seats to accommodate tourists.”
“What the country really needs are more investments in infrastructure, a stable peace and order situation, and positive image abroad to attract tourists,” said Ma. Socorro Gonzaga, PAL senior assistant vice-president for external affairs. “It’s not the number of airline seats that is the behind the lack of tourist interest in the Philippines but the country’s negative image abroad, specially in the area of peace and order and security,” she added.
Ms. Gonzaga said there are 47.4 million seats available to foreign and local carriers at present.
“However, of these 47.4 million available seats, only 10.97 million seats -- or 23% of total entitlements -- were used by foreign and local carriers last year. Of the 10.97 million passengers that came to the country by air in 2009, only 2.9 million were tourists,” she said.
She said Clark in Pampanga has 25.6 million in seat entitlements yearly, Cebu, 20.7 million; Davao, 20.3 million, and Kalibo in Aklan, Bohol, Palawan and Laoag, 19.6 million.
“In Manila, there are 21.2 million seat entitlements available yearly.
The sum is more than 47.4 million seats because many of the entitlements may be used for different airports, hence the overlap,” she said.
Last month, the government said it would further liberalize the civil aviation industry to increase tourist arrivals. The move is being touted as the long-term solution to the financial woes of PAL, which is facing labor problems.
In October, the Labor department allowed the Lucio C. Tan-led airline to outsource three non-core units to cut costs. -- A. M. P. Dagcutan
Business World
FLAG CARRIER Philippine Airlines (PAL) said yesterday an “open skies” policy should be “fair and reciprocal,” and should “not unduly place local carriers at a disadvantage vis-a-vis foreign airlines.”
In a statement, PAL said that during a recent public hearing conducted by the House of Representatives’ transportation committee, it pointed out that foreign carriers “enjoy adequate access to Philippine skies, debunking claims there is lack of airline seats to accommodate tourists.”
“What the country really needs are more investments in infrastructure, a stable peace and order situation, and positive image abroad to attract tourists,” said Ma. Socorro Gonzaga, PAL senior assistant vice-president for external affairs. “It’s not the number of airline seats that is the behind the lack of tourist interest in the Philippines but the country’s negative image abroad, specially in the area of peace and order and security,” she added.
Ms. Gonzaga said there are 47.4 million seats available to foreign and local carriers at present.
“However, of these 47.4 million available seats, only 10.97 million seats -- or 23% of total entitlements -- were used by foreign and local carriers last year. Of the 10.97 million passengers that came to the country by air in 2009, only 2.9 million were tourists,” she said.
She said Clark in Pampanga has 25.6 million in seat entitlements yearly, Cebu, 20.7 million; Davao, 20.3 million, and Kalibo in Aklan, Bohol, Palawan and Laoag, 19.6 million.
“In Manila, there are 21.2 million seat entitlements available yearly.
The sum is more than 47.4 million seats because many of the entitlements may be used for different airports, hence the overlap,” she said.
Last month, the government said it would further liberalize the civil aviation industry to increase tourist arrivals. The move is being touted as the long-term solution to the financial woes of PAL, which is facing labor problems.
In October, the Labor department allowed the Lucio C. Tan-led airline to outsource three non-core units to cut costs. -- A. M. P. Dagcutan
PAL: Open skies’ policy should be fair
By Paolo Montecillo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:57:00 12/01/2010
MANILA, Philippines—The government should not rush into implementing an “open skies” policy until other countries pledge to liberalize their own air travel sectors, flag carrier Philippine Airlines said.
In a statement, the Lucio Tan-led carrier said it would support an open skies policy but only if it was “fair, reciprocal” and would not unduly place local carriers at a disadvantage against foreign airlines.
At a hearing conducted by the House transportation committee, PAL senior assistant vice-president for external affairs Ma. Socorro Gonzaga said foreign carriers enjoyed adequate access to Philippine skies, debunking claims that there was lack of airline seats to accommodate tourists.
She said what the country really needed were more investments in infrastructure, a stable peace and order situation, and positive image abroad to attract tourists.
PAL said the opening up the country’s air space to foreign carriers might put local airlines at a disadvantage. Foreign airlines in the region are usually supported or even co-owned by their respective governments unlike PAL, which is privately run.
“It’s not the number of airline seats that is the behind the lack of tourist interest in the Philippines but the country’s negative image abroad, especially in the area of peace and order and security,” she said.
Since the Ramos administration, she said the Philippines had been liberally granting entitlements to foreign airlines. At present, she said there were 47.4 million seats available to foreign and local carriers.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:57:00 12/01/2010
MANILA, Philippines—The government should not rush into implementing an “open skies” policy until other countries pledge to liberalize their own air travel sectors, flag carrier Philippine Airlines said.
In a statement, the Lucio Tan-led carrier said it would support an open skies policy but only if it was “fair, reciprocal” and would not unduly place local carriers at a disadvantage against foreign airlines.
At a hearing conducted by the House transportation committee, PAL senior assistant vice-president for external affairs Ma. Socorro Gonzaga said foreign carriers enjoyed adequate access to Philippine skies, debunking claims that there was lack of airline seats to accommodate tourists.
She said what the country really needed were more investments in infrastructure, a stable peace and order situation, and positive image abroad to attract tourists.
PAL said the opening up the country’s air space to foreign carriers might put local airlines at a disadvantage. Foreign airlines in the region are usually supported or even co-owned by their respective governments unlike PAL, which is privately run.
“It’s not the number of airline seats that is the behind the lack of tourist interest in the Philippines but the country’s negative image abroad, especially in the area of peace and order and security,” she said.
Since the Ramos administration, she said the Philippines had been liberally granting entitlements to foreign airlines. At present, she said there were 47.4 million seats available to foreign and local carriers.
PAL supports ‘fair’, ‘reciprocal’ open skies
By Abigail Kwok
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 19:20:00 12/01/2010
MANILA, Philippines—Flag carrier Philippine Airlines on Wednesday said it supports an open skies policy but it should be "fair," "reciprocal," and protects local carriers.
During a public hearing conducted by the House transportation committee, PAL Senior Assistant Vice President for External Affairs Ma. Socorro Gonzaga said foreign carriers enjoy adequate access to Philippine skies, debunking claims there is lack of airline seats to accommodate tourists.
She said what the country really needs are more investments in infrastructure, a stable peace and order situation, and positive image abroad to attract tourists.
“It’s not the number of airline seats that is the behind the lack of tourist interest in the Philippines but the country’s negative image abroad, especially in the area of peace and order and security,” she said.
Despite this perception, Gonzaga said PAL, as the country’s flag carrier, has always been in the forefront in developing key markets to boost Philippine tourism.
She said PAL is the only Philippine carrier flying to and from several significant destinations around the world, making it one of the primary drivers of Philippine tourism.
Since the Ramos administration, she said the Philippines has been liberally granting entitlements to foreign airlines. At present, she said there are 47.4 million seats available to foreign and local carriers.
However, of these 47.4 million available seats, only 10.97 million seats – or 23 percent of total entitlements – were used by foreign and local carriers last year.
Of the 10.97 million passengers that came to the country by air in 2009, only 2.9 million were tourists.
Gonzaga said the data belies the claim by proponents of open skies that there is lack of airline seats to accommodate foreign visitors.
The Department of Tourism’s target this year is 3.1 million tourists, progressively increasing to six (6) million by 2016.
“Even without open skies, the six million tourists target of DOT by 2016 could be accommodated based on existing airline seats or entitlements available to both foreign and local carriers,” she stressed.
Gonzaga explained that seat entitlement to Clark is about 25.6 million, to Cebu, 20.7 million; to Davao, 20.3 million, and to Kalibo, Bohol, Palawan and Laoag, 19.6 million. In Manila, there are 21.2 million seat entitlements available yearly.
The sum is more than 47.4 million seats because many of the entitlements may be used for different airports, hence the overlap, Gonzaga said.
She said the figures effectively debunk the arguments of open skies advocates that the lack of airline seats is the principal reason for low tourist arrivals in the country.
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 19:20:00 12/01/2010
MANILA, Philippines—Flag carrier Philippine Airlines on Wednesday said it supports an open skies policy but it should be "fair," "reciprocal," and protects local carriers.
During a public hearing conducted by the House transportation committee, PAL Senior Assistant Vice President for External Affairs Ma. Socorro Gonzaga said foreign carriers enjoy adequate access to Philippine skies, debunking claims there is lack of airline seats to accommodate tourists.
She said what the country really needs are more investments in infrastructure, a stable peace and order situation, and positive image abroad to attract tourists.
“It’s not the number of airline seats that is the behind the lack of tourist interest in the Philippines but the country’s negative image abroad, especially in the area of peace and order and security,” she said.
Despite this perception, Gonzaga said PAL, as the country’s flag carrier, has always been in the forefront in developing key markets to boost Philippine tourism.
She said PAL is the only Philippine carrier flying to and from several significant destinations around the world, making it one of the primary drivers of Philippine tourism.
Since the Ramos administration, she said the Philippines has been liberally granting entitlements to foreign airlines. At present, she said there are 47.4 million seats available to foreign and local carriers.
However, of these 47.4 million available seats, only 10.97 million seats – or 23 percent of total entitlements – were used by foreign and local carriers last year.
Of the 10.97 million passengers that came to the country by air in 2009, only 2.9 million were tourists.
Gonzaga said the data belies the claim by proponents of open skies that there is lack of airline seats to accommodate foreign visitors.
The Department of Tourism’s target this year is 3.1 million tourists, progressively increasing to six (6) million by 2016.
“Even without open skies, the six million tourists target of DOT by 2016 could be accommodated based on existing airline seats or entitlements available to both foreign and local carriers,” she stressed.
Gonzaga explained that seat entitlement to Clark is about 25.6 million, to Cebu, 20.7 million; to Davao, 20.3 million, and to Kalibo, Bohol, Palawan and Laoag, 19.6 million. In Manila, there are 21.2 million seat entitlements available yearly.
The sum is more than 47.4 million seats because many of the entitlements may be used for different airports, hence the overlap, Gonzaga said.
She said the figures effectively debunk the arguments of open skies advocates that the lack of airline seats is the principal reason for low tourist arrivals in the country.
PAL open to fair ‘open skies’
INQUIRER.net
Posted date: December 01, 2010
MANILA, Philippines—Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Wednesday assured lawmakers that it would support an open skies policy but only if it is fair, reciprocal, and would not unduly place local carriers at a disadvantage vis-à-vis foreign airlines.
In a news release after a public hearing conducted by the House transportation committee, PAL senior assistant vice president for external affairs Ma. Socorro Gonzaga said foreign carriers enjoy adequate access to Philippine skies, debunking claims there is lack of airline seats to accommodate tourists.
She said what the country really needs are more investments in infrastructure, a stable peace and order situation, and pa ositive image abroad to attract tourists.
“It’s not the number of airline seats that is the behind the lack of tourist interest in the Philippines but the country’s negative image abroad, especially in the area of peace and order and security,” she said.
Despite this perception, Gonzaga said PAL, as the country’s flag carrier, has always been at the forefront in developing key markets to boost Philippine tourism.
She said PAL is the only Philippine carrier flying to and from several significant destinations around the world, making it one of the primary drivers of Philippine tourism.
Since the Ramos administration, she said the Philippines has been liberally granting entitlements to foreign airlines. At present, she said there are 47.4 million seats available to foreign and local carriers.
However, of these 47.4 million available seats, only 10.97 million seats—or 23 percent of total entitlements—were used by foreign and local carriers last year.
Of the 10.97 million passengers that came to the country by air in 2009, only 2.9 million were tourists.
Gonzaga said the data belies the claim by proponents of open skies that there is lack of airline seats to accommodate foreign visitors.
The Department of Tourism’s target this year is 3.1 million tourists, progressively increasing to six million by 2016.
“Even without open skies, the six million tourists target of DoT by 2016 could be accommodated based on existing airline seats or entitlements available to both foreign and local carriers,” she stressed.
Gonzaga explained that seat entitlement to Clark is about 25.6 million, to Cebu, 20.7 million, to Davao, 20.3 million, and to Kalibo, Bohol, Palawan, and Laoag, 19.6 million. In Manila, there are 21.2 million seat entitlements available yearly. The sum is more than 47.4 million seats because many of the entitlements may be used for different airports, hence the overlap.
She said the figures effectively debunk the arguments of open skies advocates that the lack of airline seats is the principal reason for low tourist arrivals in the country.
Posted date: December 01, 2010
MANILA, Philippines—Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Wednesday assured lawmakers that it would support an open skies policy but only if it is fair, reciprocal, and would not unduly place local carriers at a disadvantage vis-à-vis foreign airlines.
In a news release after a public hearing conducted by the House transportation committee, PAL senior assistant vice president for external affairs Ma. Socorro Gonzaga said foreign carriers enjoy adequate access to Philippine skies, debunking claims there is lack of airline seats to accommodate tourists.
She said what the country really needs are more investments in infrastructure, a stable peace and order situation, and pa ositive image abroad to attract tourists.
“It’s not the number of airline seats that is the behind the lack of tourist interest in the Philippines but the country’s negative image abroad, especially in the area of peace and order and security,” she said.
Despite this perception, Gonzaga said PAL, as the country’s flag carrier, has always been at the forefront in developing key markets to boost Philippine tourism.
She said PAL is the only Philippine carrier flying to and from several significant destinations around the world, making it one of the primary drivers of Philippine tourism.
Since the Ramos administration, she said the Philippines has been liberally granting entitlements to foreign airlines. At present, she said there are 47.4 million seats available to foreign and local carriers.
However, of these 47.4 million available seats, only 10.97 million seats—or 23 percent of total entitlements—were used by foreign and local carriers last year.
Of the 10.97 million passengers that came to the country by air in 2009, only 2.9 million were tourists.
Gonzaga said the data belies the claim by proponents of open skies that there is lack of airline seats to accommodate foreign visitors.
The Department of Tourism’s target this year is 3.1 million tourists, progressively increasing to six million by 2016.
“Even without open skies, the six million tourists target of DoT by 2016 could be accommodated based on existing airline seats or entitlements available to both foreign and local carriers,” she stressed.
Gonzaga explained that seat entitlement to Clark is about 25.6 million, to Cebu, 20.7 million, to Davao, 20.3 million, and to Kalibo, Bohol, Palawan, and Laoag, 19.6 million. In Manila, there are 21.2 million seat entitlements available yearly. The sum is more than 47.4 million seats because many of the entitlements may be used for different airports, hence the overlap.
She said the figures effectively debunk the arguments of open skies advocates that the lack of airline seats is the principal reason for low tourist arrivals in the country.
PAL: Open skies’ policy should be fair
By Paolo Montecillo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:57:00 12/01/2010
MANILA, Philippines—The government should not rush into implementing an “open skies” policy until other countries pledge to liberalize their own air travel sectors, flag carrier Philippine Airlines said.
In a statement, the Lucio Tan-led carrier said it would support an open skies policy but only if it was “fair, reciprocal” and would not unduly place local carriers at a disadvantage against foreign airlines.
At a hearing conducted by the House transportation committee, PAL senior assistant vice-president for external affairs Ma. Socorro Gonzaga said foreign carriers enjoyed adequate access to Philippine skies, debunking claims that there was lack of airline seats to accommodate tourists.
She said what the country really needed were more investments in infrastructure, a stable peace and order situation, and positive image abroad to attract tourists.
PAL said the opening up the country’s air space to foreign carriers might put local airlines at a disadvantage. Foreign airlines in the region are usually supported or even co-owned by their respective governments unlike PAL, which is privately run.
“It’s not the number of airline seats that is the behind the lack of tourist interest in the Philippines but the country’s negative image abroad, especially in the area of peace and order and security,” she said.
Since the Ramos administration, she said the Philippines had been liberally granting entitlements to foreign airlines. At present, she said there were 47.4 million seats available to foreign and local carriers.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:57:00 12/01/2010
MANILA, Philippines—The government should not rush into implementing an “open skies” policy until other countries pledge to liberalize their own air travel sectors, flag carrier Philippine Airlines said.
In a statement, the Lucio Tan-led carrier said it would support an open skies policy but only if it was “fair, reciprocal” and would not unduly place local carriers at a disadvantage against foreign airlines.
At a hearing conducted by the House transportation committee, PAL senior assistant vice-president for external affairs Ma. Socorro Gonzaga said foreign carriers enjoyed adequate access to Philippine skies, debunking claims that there was lack of airline seats to accommodate tourists.
She said what the country really needed were more investments in infrastructure, a stable peace and order situation, and positive image abroad to attract tourists.
PAL said the opening up the country’s air space to foreign carriers might put local airlines at a disadvantage. Foreign airlines in the region are usually supported or even co-owned by their respective governments unlike PAL, which is privately run.
“It’s not the number of airline seats that is the behind the lack of tourist interest in the Philippines but the country’s negative image abroad, especially in the area of peace and order and security,” she said.
Since the Ramos administration, she said the Philippines had been liberally granting entitlements to foreign airlines. At present, she said there were 47.4 million seats available to foreign and local carriers.
Solons, PAL opposed to ‘open skies’ policy
By Michael Lim Ubac
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 20:13:00 12/01/2010
Filed Under: Air Transport, Tourism
MANILA, Philippines—Lawmakers are supporting Philippine Airlines’ opposition to the open skies policy that the Aquino administration is pursuing in order to increase tourist arrivals.
President Benigno Aquino announced the open skies policy at the opening of the public-private partnerships and infrastructure conference last month.
He told foreign and local business leaders that his government would pursue the full implementation of EO 219 (the liberalization of air travel industry) in international aviation.
The Department of Tourism is targeting to attract 3.1 million tourists in 2009, progressively increasing to six million by 2016.
Aquino said the liberalization would be done gradually, starting with “what is called pocket open skies.”
However, PAL and House members at the hearing seemed lukewarm even to a partial open skies policy.
An official of the Civil Aeronautics Board told the hearing that open skies would not ensure more passengers.
Porvenir Porciuncula, CAB deputy executive director, said many foreign airlines have obtained numerous seat entitlements, but have not been actually flying to secondary gateways or key cities outside of Metro Manila like Davao, Cebu or Cagayan.
“It is really a function of the market. Open skies will not guarantee foreign airline flights to the country. The more urgent thing is to address infrastructure, facilities, the image of country abroad,” he said.
A representative of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said that while the country remained in the aviation blacklists, any law that would open up the country’s skies would be toothless because of lingering safety concerns at the airports.
This prompted some lawmakers to raise the possibility of shelving the bills calling for open skies.
Ma. Socorro Gonzaga, PAL assistant vice president for external affairs, also said that foreign carriers have been enjoying adequate access to Philippine skies.
At present, 47.4 million seats are available to foreign and local carriers, but only 10.97 million seats, or 23 percent, were used in 2009, according to Gonzaga.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 20:13:00 12/01/2010
Filed Under: Air Transport, Tourism
MANILA, Philippines—Lawmakers are supporting Philippine Airlines’ opposition to the open skies policy that the Aquino administration is pursuing in order to increase tourist arrivals.
President Benigno Aquino announced the open skies policy at the opening of the public-private partnerships and infrastructure conference last month.
He told foreign and local business leaders that his government would pursue the full implementation of EO 219 (the liberalization of air travel industry) in international aviation.
The Department of Tourism is targeting to attract 3.1 million tourists in 2009, progressively increasing to six million by 2016.
Aquino said the liberalization would be done gradually, starting with “what is called pocket open skies.”
However, PAL and House members at the hearing seemed lukewarm even to a partial open skies policy.
An official of the Civil Aeronautics Board told the hearing that open skies would not ensure more passengers.
Porvenir Porciuncula, CAB deputy executive director, said many foreign airlines have obtained numerous seat entitlements, but have not been actually flying to secondary gateways or key cities outside of Metro Manila like Davao, Cebu or Cagayan.
“It is really a function of the market. Open skies will not guarantee foreign airline flights to the country. The more urgent thing is to address infrastructure, facilities, the image of country abroad,” he said.
A representative of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said that while the country remained in the aviation blacklists, any law that would open up the country’s skies would be toothless because of lingering safety concerns at the airports.
This prompted some lawmakers to raise the possibility of shelving the bills calling for open skies.
Ma. Socorro Gonzaga, PAL assistant vice president for external affairs, also said that foreign carriers have been enjoying adequate access to Philippine skies.
At present, 47.4 million seats are available to foreign and local carriers, but only 10.97 million seats, or 23 percent, were used in 2009, according to Gonzaga.
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