Japan-Philippine Air Negotiations to Resume

After a rocky start that saw Philippine aviation officials crying discrimination and calling for the dissolution of the Japan-Philippine Air Service Agreement, Tokyo has finally agreed to hold negotiations to establish additional flight rights for Philippine carriers to serve Japan. 

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According to John Andrews, Deputy Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Japanese officials were satisfied with the agency's case for expansion of flights to Japan. He stated that on a recent visit to the Philippines, Japanese officials led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe were given a two-hour presentation by the Civil Aviation Authority.  

"They came out completely satisfied," Andrews said. "We are now going to expand the flights between Japan and the Philippines. That means there's no restrictions." Andrews expected the new air talks to begin almost immediately. Both Japan and South Korea had been imposing restrictions on Philippine carriers from mounting additional flights citing the safety concerns raised by the International Civil Aviation Organization. But given the recent developments that saw the Philippines removed off the ICAO list and the progressive lifting of the European ban beginning with Philippine Airlines, it was expected that Japan should follow suit. 

Andrews expects talks with South Korea to be held later this year. Meanwhile, both Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines have pending applications filed with the Civil Aeronautics Board to increase flight frequencies to South Korea and Japan. 

Philippine Airlines currently boasts 43% of the seat capacity between the Philippines and Japan while Cebu Pacific holds less than 3% with just three weekly flights to Osaka. Philippine Airlines offers direct service from Manila to Fukuoka, Okinawa, Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka. In South Korea, the gap is much narrower with Cebu Pacific holding 14% against 15% held by Philippine Airlines. South Korea remains the number one source of tourists for the country representing more than a quarter of the country's tourist arrivals.

Meanwhile, Philippine aviation officials are still in the process of preparing letter proposals to Japan and Korea for holding talks. But officials are confident that the responses will be positive and that the hope is for talks to be held as soon as possible.

According to the Civil Aeronautics Board, talks were last held with Japan in 2009 and with South Korea in 2012. Requests for further discussions were rejected previously by both countries preventing Philippine carriers from expanding in Japan and South Korea.