DOTr eyes new air routes, more flights to UK, etc.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is aiming to launch new routes and expand flight networks from the Philippines to the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Thailand and India, which is in line with its goal of ramping up linkages to international destinations.
DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista, during the Aviation Summit 2024 event in Pasay City on Wednesday, said the Civil Aeronautics Board was planning to conduct air consultation talks with authorities in said countries.
“Through these air talks, we intend to open new international routes or add more flight frequencies on existing routes to provide travelers flexibility in going to more international destinations while attracting drones of foreign tourists to explore the country,” the transport chief said.
At present, no local carriers have direct flights to Europe as well as the United Kingdom. Philippine Airlines (PAL) used to serve direct flights to London but were discontinued when the pandemic struck in 2020.
PAL is also the only local carrier to have direct flights to the United States, comprising Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Honolulu and Guam.
Both the flag carrier and Cebu Pacific provide direct flights to Australia. Their routes are Manila to Melbourne, Sydney and Perth.
Passengers from the Philippines fly to Thailand via Bangkok. This month, Cebu Pacific will launch Manila-Chiang Mai flights.
Meanwhile, the country has yet to service a direct flight to India.
Bautista said they were also eyeing to have air talks with Uzbekistan, Qatar, Ethiopia, Oman and Seychelles.
Amid the DOTr’s initiative of increasing flights overseas, International Air Transport Association (IATA) said that global traffic has been regaining momentum.
IATA area manager for Southeast Asia Yuli Thompson, said in the same forum that the Philippines’ international passenger volume has reached 83 percent of pre-pandemic level as of June this year.
This made the Philippines a laggard in the region as it was only ahead of Cambodia with 49-percent recovery. Indonesia and Vietnam had the strongest showing with 98 percent of their pre-pandemic volume restored.
With the sustained travel resurgence, Thompson projects that full recovery for the Philippines will be next year.
As airlines expand their flight networks, Bautista raised the need to also upgrade airports and related facilities in order to better service the passengers.
The Ninoy Aquino International Airport, for example, is currently undergoing major rehabilitation to increase passenger capacity.
Outside Metro Manila, the DOTr is also looking at developing airports in Davao, Busuanga, Bacolod, Bicol and General Santos, among others.
“Airport expansion and upgrading primarily hinges on a continued rise in passenger traffic as well as those that exhibit growth potential measured by increased tourism and economic activities,” Bautista said. “Of course, these would boost economic growth through enhanced mobility and connectivity for people and goods.”
