4 January 2015
After clearing the European Union aviation ban, Cebu Pacific intends to fly to Rome in Italy, and is seeking approval from the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) to fly seven times a week to the Roman Catholic heartland possibly via Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
The airline is seeking reallocation of 7 of the 14 unutilized flight entitlements to Italy," Alex Reyes, general manager of Cebu Pacific’s Long Haul Division said.
Philippine Airlines (PAL) held all the 14 flight entitlements to Italy while Alitalia secured all flights going to the Philippines.
The Philippines and Italy, amended its Air Services Agreement (ASA) on Sept. 5, 2013 allocating 4,800 seats weekly for either side on all air routes between the two countries.
Cebu Pacific said that Philippine Airlines is not currently utilizing the slots and it would only be fair that they should also be awarded half of the entitlements as they also are flag carriers of the Philippines recently authorized to fly to Europe last year.
Philippine Airlines is expected to contest the application as it has similar plans to fly Italy via Rome and Milan where majority of the overseas Filipinos (OFW) are residing.
Both airline plans to fly the A330-300, either directly or via an intermediate point, most likely Dubai, and Tel Aviv where Philippine carriers has fifth freedom traffic rights.
Italy hosts the largest population of Overseas Filipino Workers in Western Europe, according to Department of Foreign Affairs statistics. The Italian Ministry of Interior reports that there are 155,945 registered or documented Filipinos with valid permits to stay and work in the country in 2012. An estimated 10 percent of the Filipinos are undocumented, according to the Italian National Institute of Statistics. According to Italian government statistics, Filipinos are concentrated in the cities of Milan and Rome and are substantially using air services of gulf carriers to return to the Philippines.
The Philippines entered its first air service agreement with Italy in 1969 allowing each airline to mount one direct flight a week. PAL has been using Rome on its way to London since 1976 until 1996 when PAL flew directly to Heathrow.
The airline is seeking reallocation of 7 of the 14 unutilized flight entitlements to Italy," Alex Reyes, general manager of Cebu Pacific’s Long Haul Division said.
Philippine Airlines (PAL) held all the 14 flight entitlements to Italy while Alitalia secured all flights going to the Philippines.
The Philippines and Italy, amended its Air Services Agreement (ASA) on Sept. 5, 2013 allocating 4,800 seats weekly for either side on all air routes between the two countries.
Cebu Pacific said that Philippine Airlines is not currently utilizing the slots and it would only be fair that they should also be awarded half of the entitlements as they also are flag carriers of the Philippines recently authorized to fly to Europe last year.
Philippine Airlines is expected to contest the application as it has similar plans to fly Italy via Rome and Milan where majority of the overseas Filipinos (OFW) are residing.
Both airline plans to fly the A330-300, either directly or via an intermediate point, most likely Dubai, and Tel Aviv where Philippine carriers has fifth freedom traffic rights.
Italy hosts the largest population of Overseas Filipino Workers in Western Europe, according to Department of Foreign Affairs statistics. The Italian Ministry of Interior reports that there are 155,945 registered or documented Filipinos with valid permits to stay and work in the country in 2012. An estimated 10 percent of the Filipinos are undocumented, according to the Italian National Institute of Statistics. According to Italian government statistics, Filipinos are concentrated in the cities of Milan and Rome and are substantially using air services of gulf carriers to return to the Philippines.
The Philippines entered its first air service agreement with Italy in 1969 allowing each airline to mount one direct flight a week. PAL has been using Rome on its way to London since 1976 until 1996 when PAL flew directly to Heathrow.
Any source? Also PAL doesn't fly to Tel Aviv currently.
ReplyDeleteThis is a good news and i live in florence,italy.a direct flights to ph with stop over in dubai or tel aviv...ok no more hassles of transferring in other labyrinth like airport of middle east or hongkong.i really hate to connect flight.
ReplyDeleteOn Cebu Pacific to Italy:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.rappler.com/business/industries/171-aviation-tourism/79820-cebu-pacific-eyes-italy?utm_content=buffer5ebc9&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
YUCK.
FU!
Deletewhat will be the target date its maiden flight?
ReplyDeleteam planned to have a vacation this summer.
am supposed to book the maiden flight of turkish airline,
rome-manila via istambul...