Philippines, South Korea ink new air service agreement

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and South Korea have signed a new air services agreement which gives each country 20,000 seats per week between Manila and all international airports in South Korea.

Civil Aeronautics Board executive director Carmelo Arcilla said in a text message the new agreement was signed last Nov. 8.

Under the new memorandum of understanding (MOU), all airlines of the Philippines authorized to operate between Manila and all international airports in Korea can utilize a combined total of 20,000 seats per week. 

Arcilla said the same number of 20,000 seats per week is also available for all the Korean carriers authorized to operate between Manila and all international airports in Korea. 

At present, there are eight Korean air carriers and five Philippine air carriers operating flights between the two countries.  

The new MOU also provides unlimited traffic rights for the authorized airlines of both countries between all international  airports in the Philippines outside Manila and all international airports in Korea. 

Prior to the signing of the new MOU, the last air talks between the Philippines and South Korea were held in late 2015, which increased entitlements by 3,000 seats to 31,500 seats per week.

“The expanded air traffic rights in Manila is intended to address the increased demand for air services between Manila and Korea, while the unlimited air traffic rights outside Manila is in line with Philippine government policy to develop airports outside Manila and spur the economic development of new tourism, trade and economic centers outside Manila. The new agreement is expected to enhance air connectivity to support the vastly growing tourism, trade and investments between the two countries,” Arcilla said.

Korea has consistently been the biggest source of foreign tourists to the Philippines.

Last year, 1.475 million Korean tourists visited the Philippines