Philippines upgrades air services deal with Switzerland

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has upgraded its air services agreement with Switzerland and is also poised to update its air connectivity deal with Thailand.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said the Philippines signed on Tuesday the new air services agreement with Switzerland which updated the countries’ existing pact to follow current International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and Philippine templates.

The DOTr said the country’s air services agreement with Switzerland was executed on March 8, 1952, and was last amended 24 years ago in 1994.

“It was therefore in dire need of an update to catch up with requirements of the current legal regimes, such as agreements that the Philippines has entered into or amended with other partner countries over the years,” the agency said.

According to the DOTr, capacity and route network provisions had to be brought up to speed with the country’s current policy on improving connectivity and its carriers’ international expansion plans.

“The delegations also agreed that the designated airlines of both parties may exercise unlimited direct flights with 3rd and 4th freedom traffic rights between Switzerland and the Philippines, except to Zurich and Manila, for which seven frequencies per week per side was agreed on. These will be increased to 14 frequencies each side one year after the date of signing of the memorandum of understanding,” Transportation Undersecretary for Aviation Manuel Tamayo said.

The DOTr said the Swiss talks commenced in July, but the updated agreement was signed only on Tuesday.

Switzerland is a key component for good air access web in Europe and, aside from being a direct connection, is a possible 5th freedom support or connection for at least 17 European, Middle Eastern, or Asian countries with which the Philippines has air agreements, the DOTr said.

Switzerland was among the countries which the Civil Aeronautics Board had earlier identified as to which the Philippines is planning to hold air talks with this year.

Meanwhile, the Philippines and Thailand on Tuesday also signed a memorandum of understanding containing the draft of a new air services agreement that will replace the old one signed in 1953.

The DOTr said the new air services agreement will not just conform to the current ICAO template, but will also “reflect the current legal milieu and aviation relationship between the parties.”

“The agreement between the Philippines and Thailand is now aligned with ASEAN multilateral agreements opening up travel, tourism, and trade within and among the 10-country bloc. The parties have, thus, declared that the passenger and cargo capacities between the Philippines and Thailand are now without restriction, in keeping with the ASEAN Multilateral Agreement on Air Services, the Multilateral Agreement on Full Liberalisation of Passenger Air Services, and the Multilateral Agreement on Full Liberalisation of Air Freight Services,” the agency said.