After nearly four months of negotiations, direct flights between Taiwan and the Philippines appear set to resume this Mon-day after the two sides signed an interim agreement yesterday which sets the basis for negotiations of a new pact on aviation links.
President Joseph Estrada, who witnessed the "exchange of letters" between the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) and the Taipei Cultural Office, said the agreement sets a maximum passenger capacity of 4,800 a week for both sides.
"This will again enhance our trade relationship with Taiwan. The resumption of flights will most probably begin on Monday," he said.
Direct aviation links between Taipei and Manila were suspended last Oct. 1 when Philippine authorities abrogated a 1996 aviation agreement.
Negotiation sessions broke down several times when both sides failed to resolve the dispute over so-called "sixth freedom" rights, which allow Taiwan carriers to pick up passengers in Manila and transfer them to a third destination via Taipei.
The 1996 agreement extends a seat entitlement of 9,600 passengers per week to China Airlines and EVA Airways, but Philippine Airlines (PAL) complained that the Taiwan carriers were poaching its passengers by offering lower airfares -- thereby compounding the financial problem of the ailing airline.
Chan Hsien-ching (
Estrada said other details of the air services agreement, such as freedom rights, destinations and flight frequency, would still have to be negotiated by the two sides.
In a press release, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said the 4,800 seat quota is applicable to Taipei-Manila flights while the seating entitlements for Kaohsiung-Manila flights are left open.
"Both sides have resolved the issue of `sixth freedom' rights. Taiwan carriers can fly to third destinations," said the ministry's official spokesman, Henry Chen (
"But details of a new agreement are still being worked out." he said.
In the event that a new agreement is not reached, the letter of understanding stipulates that either side will have to give one year's advance notice before terminating the agreement.
Taiwan has complained that in canceling the previous agreement, Manila ignored international procedures that call for a one-year warning before an air pact is terminated.
Foreign Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs Franklin Ebdalin, also a member of Manila's Civil Aeronautics Board, confirmed that the interim agreement allows EVA Airways and China Airlines to carry passengers to a third destination.
"Both sides really suffered when the air links were cut," Ebdalin said. "And we don't like to have that kind of relationship. The resumption of flights was also timed for the Chinese New Year."
The Philippines is a popular holiday destination for Taiwan travelers during the Lunar New Year.
MECO officials say the number of Taiwan tourists traveling to the Philippines since the suspension of air links has fallen by between 10 and15 percent.
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