Phl, Israel ink new air pact

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines and Israel signed yesterday a new air service pact updating an old agreement signed more than six decades ago allowing airlines from the country to fly indirectly to Europe via Tel Aviv.

Carmelo Arcilla, executive director of the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), said in a text message that the new air service agreement was signed yesterday giving designated airlines of each country 21 flights per week.

“Under the new agreement, the designated airlines of each country are entitled to a total of 21 flights per week between any points in the Philippines and Israel,” Arcilla said.

He pointed out that both countries also agreed on three fifth freedom flights per week on one intermediate point in Mumbai and one beyond point in Madrid.

“This means that a Philippine carrier can fly to India, unload and pick up passengers and proceed to Israel, or unload and pick up in Israel and proceed to Madrid,” he added.

He added that both countries also agreed on coterminal and stopover rights to any third country for the 21 flights.

“This means that a Philippine carrier can bring passengers to Tel Aviv and proceed to say, Rome or bring passengers to Tel Aviv, and pick them up again after several days for onward travel to say, Rome,” Arcilla explained.

The CAB official said both countries signed an air service agreement or a memorandum of understanding way back in 1951 and national flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) used to fly to Israel in the 1950s and 1960s.

“We could not find records of the previous entitlements. Presumably it’s a very low number, as was common during that time. PAL used to operate to Israel in the 50s and 60s, but we don’t have records anymore,” he said.

This was the sixth air service agreement signed by the Philippines this year including Japan, Italy, Macau, Brazil, and Australia. Philippines is also supposed to hold air talks with Russia within the year.

The Philippines signed a new air service agreement with Japan last September increasing the number of flights between Manila and Narita to a total maximum 400 per week from the previous 119.

The pact also allowed unlimited flights to points outside Manila and Haneda.

President Aquino has signed Executive Order 29 authorizing the CAB and the Philippine air panels to pursue more aggressively the international civil aviation liberalization policy.