Clark hosts air talks between RP, Kuwait

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga – The Philippines and Kuwait air panels ended yesterday at the Mimosa Leisure Estate here their two-day review of existing Air Services Agreement (ASA) between them.

 Next week, this freeport will also host similar negotiations between the Philippines and Malaysia, Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) president and chief executive officer Victor Jose Luciano said.

“The air talks are crucial for the development of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) since it aims to attract middle eastern flights to the 2,500-hectare Civil Aviation Complex,” he said, noting the tens of thousands of overseas Filipino workers in the Middle East who hail from the four regions north of Metro Manila.

Details of the agreements reached were not immediately available as the negotiations still had to be concluded as of late yesterday, but Luciano noted that the meeting between the two panels “is an opportunity for Clark to work out for more air entitlements so as to attract Middle East carriers to fly at DMIA for the benefit of OFW’s.”

 Luciano headed the CIAC delegation to the air talks, together with CIAC executive vice president Alexander Cauguiran.

“The RP air panel has negotiated for additonal entitlements for both Clark and Manila,” Luciano said.

The DMIA is being geared as the next premier international gateway of the country as envisioned by President Arroyo. CIAC recently bid out the award for the construction of a P6.6-billion modern-passenger terminal at the airport, for completion by early 2010.

Meanwhile, Cebu Pacific Air is slated to mount daily international flights at DMIA on Nov. 8, with routes including Clark-Singapore, and Hong Kong, and four times per week to Macau and Bangkok. The air carrier started its daily flights to Cebu last Oct. 1.

Cebu Pacific (CEB) has allocated more than 500,000 ‘Go Lite’ seats at P500 each for its first quarter of 2009 domestic and international seat sale.

CEB officials said the one-way domestic ‘Go Lite‘ seat sale fare is at P500 all-in. Meanwhile, the P500 one-way international ‘Go Lite’ seat sale fare is exclusive of applicable taxes and surcharges. Fuel and insurance surcharge ranges from $25 to $110 per way.

The sale period is from Oct. 22 to 27 and is valid for travel from Jan. 5 to March 18 next year. Passengers with check-in baggage will add P200. Promo fare is non-refundable.

“We are starting 2009 right by offering this domestic and international seat sale for the first quarter of next year. We encourage the public to take advantage of this promo and consider booking vacations as Christmas gifts to friends and family,” CEB vice president for marketing and distribution Candice Iyog said.                    – With Mary Ann Ll. Reyes