THE Philippines is looking to strengthen international air connectivity through new bilateral air service agreements with several key countries, a Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) official said.
The government has formally requested air talks with Japan, India, and Thailand, and is also considering initiating discussions with the US, CAB Executive Director Carmelo Arcilla said on Wednesday.
“We hope it will happen this year,” Arcilla told reporters, referring to the proposed schedule for the negotiations.
The air talks aim to expand flight frequencies, open new routes, and allow more carriers to operate between the Philippines and these countries. The move is part of efforts to boost tourism, trade, and economic ties as the aviation industry continues to recover from the pandemic.
Over the past two years, the board has secured expanded air service agreements with key international partners.
Notably, the Philippines and Turkiye doubled their passenger air service entitlements—from seven flights per week on each side to 14—under a revised agreement. Meanwhile, the seat capacity between the Philippines and South Korea was increased from 20,000 to 30,000 seats weekly as of last year.
The government continues to pursue bilateral talks with more countries as part of its strategy to strengthen tourism, trade, and overall aviation ties.
In February, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) met with Air India officials to discuss plans for establishing direct flights between the Philippines and India. Both sides expressed optimism, citing the growing demand for travel between the two countries.
