European Decision on Cebu Pacific Expected Before Mid-2014

An official from the European Union has revealed that a decision on whether to lift a ban preventing Cebu Pacific from flying to Europe is expected some time in the first half of this year.

Image Source: Cebu Pacific

According to Julian Vassallo, a political counselor for the EU Delegation to the Philippines, the request of Cebu Pacific to lift the ban preventing the carrier from flying to Europe is currently under review. 

Last July, the European Union lifted a ban preventing Philippine Airlines from flying into European air space. Since then, PAL has mounted its first flights to Europe in fifteen years with direct service between Manila and London Heathrow. Philippine Airlines has an ambitious expansion plan for Europe that will see the carrier add a number of new European destinations this year. 

"We are happy now that people from both Europe and the Philippines can experience ease of travel with direct flights after more than a decade," said Vassallo. "We are currently helping Cebu Pacific get off the list of EU banned airlines. I expect a decision in the first half of 2014."

Vassalo added that the re-establishment of direct flights between Manila and Europe will help to strengthen bilateral relationships between Europe and the Philippines as the flow of people from both sides will be eased. In addition, it will help to boost tourism to the Philippines with an increase in European visitors. However, he noted that the long journey to the Philippines remains the biggest hurdle for many Europeans in choosing the Philippines as a tourist destination as the long hours of travel are lengthened further by transfers in regional hubs at Singapore and Hong Kong. 

Cebu Pacific had originally intended to bring forth its case to the European Union at the same time as Philippine Airlines but had to back out due to mounting pressure that the airline was not ready as a result of a number of incidents that occurred last year with the most prominent being an aircraft that ran off the runway at Davao in June of 2013.