The Gulf Time Newspaper One of the finest business newspapers in the UAE brought to you by our professional writers and editors.
The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), in a recently concluded board meeting, granted additional entitlements to the Philippines’ leading carrier, Cebu Pacific (PSE: CEB), for international routes from Manila to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), from various points in the Philippines to Taipei and Kaohshiung in Taiwan, and from Manila to key destinations in Russia.
CEB was granted the right to operate additional seven flights weekly from Manila to the UAE, which would allow the airline to launch flights to any point in the UAE. Currently, CEB is fully utilizing its entitlements with daily flights between Manila and Dubai.
CEB’s request for rights to operate direct flights to Taipei from Caticlan, Clark, Davao, Puerto Princesa, and Tagbilaran, as well as direct flights to Kaohshiung from Caticlan and Cebu, was likewise granted. The airline is presently operating 10 times weekly flights between Manila and Taipei, and thrice weekly flights between Cebu and Taipei. CEB was also designated as an official Philippine carrier to Russia and was granted thrice weekly flights each from Manila to Moscow and Vladivostok.
In the same board meeting, CAB approved CEB’s request to be designated as an official carrier under the ASEAN Multilateral Agreement on Air Services (MAAS).
As soon as the Philippines completes the ratification of the relevant protocols of the MAAS, CEB will be able to operate unlimited flights between capital cities within the ASEAN region.
“We thank and commend the members of the Civil Aeronautics Board for enabling Philippine carriers to expand operations to key destinations. We’ve always maintained that traffic rights are valuable resources that must be allocated to carriers that are willing to utilise and operate flights. We look forward to mounting additional flights,†said Atty. JR Mantaring, CEB VP for Corporate Affairs.
—EB