Davao dot come!

Trade group clamors for open skies

By Ayen Infante

10/20/2006

The country’s biggest trade group is courting a major confrontation with local airline firms after it pratically sought an open skies policy among its resolutions during the conclusion yesterday of the three-day Philippine Business Conference (PBC).

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) raised the need to duplicate the policy at the Diosdado Macapagal Airport, which was the former US base Clark Airfield at the country’s other international airports.

PCCI president Donald Dee said the government should allow open skies to encourage the entry of foreign visitors in the country and increase investments and job generation.

Included in the proposal was to declare Clark, Subic, Laoag, Puerto Princesa, Davao, Cebu, Laguindingan, and Iloilo, as developmental routes and regional hubs; and to speed up the opening of the controversy-ridden Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.

The complete story is at The Daily Tribune.

posted by Peter at 10/20/2006 05:47:18 | 0 comment(s) | 0 trackback(s)

Finally, the Department of Transportation and Communication sees the inevitability of an "open skies" regime.

Philippine tourism will not attract millions of visitors if it continues to protect local carriers. The experiece of Clark being "opened" the past three years should be clear proof that luring more foreign carriers is the right way.

Local carriers simply have no planes and have mere rhetorical plans. For instance, in the case of PAL, we have long been hearing the story that they will fly to Hong Kong from Davao. But no actual flight has taken place.

In the meantime, its local rival, Cebu Pacific will commence a Davao-Hong Kong flight via Cebu in October. But only after Viva Macau has announced about three months ago of opening a flight to Davao.

But even if DOTC will not act unilaterally, the ASEAN pact on air liberalization will catch up with it. The region wide "open skies" will take place in a few years time.

posted by Peter at 09/01/2006 06:56:20 | 0 comment(s) | 0 trackback(s)

Beginning September 1, 2006, a new "Open Skies" agreement between Canada and the United States is scheduled to take effect. The expanded agreement, reached on November 11, 2005, will provide passenger and cargo carriers on both sides of the border with greater access and increased pricing flexibility.

Here is the complete story.

posted by Peter at 08/30/2006 03:57:36 | 0 comment(s) | 0 trackback(s)

Barring any hitches, Viva Macau is set to fly in on September 29 to commence its new service to Davao.

Viva Macau will thus become the first foreign airline to fly to Davao since the new airport opened three years ago. 

Viva Macau's current route map show flights between Macau and Maldives and Jakarta. It plans to fly to new destinations such as Davao, Moscow, and some Japanese cities.

posted by Peter at 08/27/2006 07:11:01 | 1 comment(s) | 0 trackback(s)

Singapore and Malaysia, two leading members of the ASEAN, want "to rush the signing of an open-skies agreement which was originally scheduled for implementation region-wide in 2008."

According to the Malaysian Trade Minister "there is mixed feeling" among the 10-nation grouping but they are open to it. I hope the Philippines is not one of those opposing it.

The two countries are likely to lead the way with budget airlines Tiger Air of Singapore and Air Asia of Malaysia exchanging flights between the capitals Singapore and Kuala Lumpur in addition to each nation's flag carriers.  

posted by Peter at 08/15/2006 06:38:14 | 1 comment(s) | 0 trackback(s)

Things moved quite fast during the past week for our campaign on "open skies" for Davao.

On Tuesday, the City Council passed again another Resolution requesting the President for the liberalization of civil aviation service for the Davao (Bangoy) International Airport. We passed the first one in 2003.

On Friday, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte signed the letter for the President for a similar request. Councilor Jimmy Dureza on the other hand called up his brother, Mindanao top honcho, Secretary Jesus Dureza for the latter's support.

Also on Friday, I submitted a draft EO to the mayor so he can present the same to the president in their meeting this week.

At the opening of the Garden Center of the Floriculture Industry of Davao, Inc. infront of SM in time for the Kadayawan Festival also last Friday, we got support for the "open skies" campaign from many of the city's movers and shakers in the agri-business industry. They said having direct flights to key cities in the Asian region is a necessity for the exports of flowers, ornamental plants as well as fruits grown in the city.

Saturday morning I received a call from the Freedom to Fly Coalition in Manila giving us updates on Clark's success on this regard. The coalition suggested we follow the most recent version of the EO expanding the air services in Clark.

Let's pray the meeting of the mayor and the president this week would yield positive result.

posted by Peter at 08/14/2006 07:43:06 | 0 comment(s) | 0 trackback(s)

The campaign of Davao for an "open skies" policy has gained a tremendous boost last week when NEDA Director General Secretary Romulo Neri brought up the idea to the President.

The President, accordingly, gave consent to study the proposal.

Three years ago, Davao asked for this air liberalization policy but the President granted only the request of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark. Since then, many new foreign air lines - mostly budget carriers - serviced the central Luzon airport.

An "open skies" regime for Davao and the eventual service by more foreign air carriers would augur well to the goals of develoment in Mindanao. It would benefit not only local travelers and foreign tourists, but many Mindanao overseas contract workers returning home from abroad.

posted by Peter at 08/06/2006 10:21:46 | 0 comment(s) | 0 trackback(s)

At least seven airlines, according to MEDCO chief Virgilio Leyreta, are planning to fly to Davao. I was not able to get the names of these air carriers but this is great news for the city and Mindanao.

I can recall Viva Macau intending to fly from the Pearl Delta Region of China and New Frontier Airlines from Darwin, Australia.

Davao's geographical location at the southend of the country can be a strong consideration for a waiver on air services. An "open skies" policy similar to what Alaska, Hawaii and now, the Commonwealth areas in the south Pacific is pushing, serves "public interest."

posted by Peter at 08/01/2006 06:17:01 | 0 comment(s) | 0 trackback(s)

A British Airways executive talks about hot topics such as the "open skies" between the EU and US and other issues.

posted by Peter at 07/12/2006 10:00:24 | 0 comment(s) | 0 trackback(s)

Australia and the UK has just removed the cap on 28 flights a week on the so-called Kangaroo route between the two countries.

The Australian Transport Minisiter said the deal was "in line with the Government's policy of seeking aviation arrangements that provide capacity ahead of demand."

Very interesting - building capacity before demand. Those opposing the opening of new air routes to Davao on the ground that there is no market yet should closely study this concept. Indeed if there is no air service, who wants to fly to a destination.

Singapore is quick to note this and wants to revive its plan for an "open skies" agreement with Australia for the lucrative Sydney-Los Angeles sector.

posted by Peter at 07/08/2006 06:48:19 | 0 comment(s) | 0 trackback(s)