PAL eyeing Cebu Pacific's share in seat entitlements to Papua New Guinea

InterAksyon

MANILA – The Philippines' flag carrier wants to mount more flights to Papua New Guinea.     

                    

In a filing with the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), Philippine Airlines (PAL) has asked for the reallocation of seat entitlements previously granted to Cebu Pacific.

At present, PAL and Cebu Pacific each holds 300 seat entitlements a week.

Both airlines have yet to use the entitlements since the governments of the Philippines and Papua New Guinea concluded air talks in 2012.

To recall, the government of Papua New Guinea dropped the Philippines' request for 720 additional seat entitlements per week because of local carriers’ failure to maximize the existing 600 seats.

CAB executive director Carmelo Arcilla had said PAL wants additional seats so it can fly four times weekly, while Cebu Pacific is aiming for three weekly flights.

There are about 25,000 overseas Filipino workers in Papua New Guinea.

Niu Guniea, the flag carrier of Papua New Guinea, flies three times a week to and from Manila.

PAL's request for additional seat entitlements will be heard on January 14 at the regulator's headquarters in Pasay City.