PH-TK Grows ASA

 8 April 202

The Philippines and Turkiye have signed an amended air agreement that resulted in the doubling of air passenger service entitlements between the two countries, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

Roberto Lim, DOTr undersecretary, and Dr. Kemal Yüksek, Turkish Civil Aviation acting director general, signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) that improves the bilateral air services regime between the Philippines and Turkiye, following consultations between the two countries’ air panels last March 28 to 29 in Istanbul, Turkey.

The two countries first executed an air services agreement in 2010.

DOTr said in a statement the recent air talks resulted in a doubling of air passenger service entitlements for the Philippines and Turkiye on the Manila-Istanbul and vice versa route – from the previous seven flights per week on each side to 14 flights per week – that may be operated by the designated carriers of both contracting parties.

Pursuant to the government’s policy to develop the country’s other gateways, the Philippine Air Panel persuaded the Turkish side to operate half or seven of the total Turkish entitlements to Manila on a co-terminal basis with Cebu.

Starting this International Air Transport Association (IATA) summer season 2023, Turkish Airlines (TK) will be allowed to fly 12 times a week from Manila to Istanbul, five of which will also have a stop in Cebu as a co-terminal before flying back.

This will increase to 14 weekly flights in the IATA summer season 2024, seven of which TK should co-terminalize.

Philippine Airlines, the designated carrier of the Philippines, will continue to codeshare with TK on the latter’s flights between Istanbul and Manila.

To help stir the growth of direct traffic, both sides agreed to allow third-country codesharing, in which Philippine and Turkish carriers can put their airline code and sell flights on third-country carriers that have the right to operate and carry traffic on international routes that include the territories of the Philippines and Turkey.

Meanwhile, the MOU likewise looks to tap into Turkiye’s potential as a trading partner, improving the air services agreement’s all-cargo regime by removing the route limitation and increasing the entitlements.

From three flights weekly between Manila to Istanbul, the flights have been increased to seven between all points in Turkey and all points in the Philippines.

Finally, a proposal to update the air services agreement’s carrier designation provision to align with the Philippines’ amendment of the Public Service Act was also received by the Turkish Air Panel, which committed to advise the Philippine side after review.

The Philippine air consultation panel is composed of Lim as chairman, Civil Aeronautics Board executive director Carmelo Arcilla as vice chair and Foreign Affairs OIC-assistant secretary Roussel Reyes, Tourism undersecretary Shalimar Tamano, Trade assistant secretary Mary Jean Pacheco and Labor assistant secretary Lennard Serrano as members.