PAL demands equal rights from Taipei

Philippine Airlines (PAL) has invoked the principle of reciprocity as it filed for the full entitlement of 4,800 seats weekly on flights between the Philippines and Taiwan -- a right vested under the Jan., 28, 2000 interim air agreement between the two countries.

In a petition filed late Friday with Taiwanese Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA), PAL asked for the approval of its revised schedule of services between the two countries for the upcoming summer season.

The new schedule features daily flights between Manila and Taipei using the high-capacity Boeing 747 and a once-weekly service on the same route using the widebody Airbus 330-300. The total weekly capacity for these eight flights is 3,036 seats.

Additionally, PAL also advised the Taiwan CAA of its plan to operate five times weekly between Manila and Kaohsiung using both the B747 and A330-300.

In all, PAL will have a total capacity offering of 4,708 seats weekly -- still within the 4,800-seat ceiling on flights between the Philippines and Taiwan.

PAL cited the fact that Taiwanese carriers China Airlines and EVA Airways have already received Philippine government approval to operate a combined 17 passenger flights weekly on the Manila-Taipei route, which is equivalent to 4,800 seats -- the maximum allowed by the pact.

On top of this, the Philippine Civil Aeronautics Board has also granted approval for three all-cargo flights weekly by both Taiwanese airlines, as well as for charter services by other air operators from the island, including the subsidiary carriers of China Airlines (Mandarin Airlines) and EVA Air (Uni-Air).

PAL said that the principle of reciprocity, which is enshrined in international law, demands that the Philippines be given the fair opportunity to offer an equal number of seats on the route.

The flag carrier is currently restricted to only four flights weekly between Manila and Taipei, or a total capacity of just 1,200 seats per week, after the Taiwan CAA arbitrarily cut back its frequency from the original seven flights weekly last Feb. 22.

PAL's current capacity of 1,200 seats weekly on the Manila-Taipei route is way below the 4,800 seats allowed Philippine carriers by the Jan. 28 compromise agreement.