PH, France working on direct Manila-Paris flights

Real soon, direct fights between Manila and Paris will commence as the Philippines and France are currently working on it, local officials bared Tuesday.

"Having direct flights to Paris will give comfort to the passengers. We are working on it. We will announce (details of) this in a few weeks," Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said at the French Ambassador's residence in Makati City.

Bautista also said he hopes the country's flag carrier, Philippine Airlines (PAL), would mount direct Paris flights.

PAL president Stanley Ng, who was also present, kept nodding in response.

Sought for comment, Ng told the Philippine News Agency that PAL is continuously exploring routes and that mounting the Paris flights is possible.

He also acknowledged that the carrier needs to study and consider several factors like the slots, plus the fact that PAL is waiting for new planes to arrive.

Ng expressed optimism with the renewed partnership between the Philippines and France's aviation bodies signed on Tuesday.

"I'm expecting improved safety, efficiency across all (Philippine airports). The renewal of commitment is also timely as many OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) are flying in December," he said.

Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Director General Manuel Tamayo, meanwhile, bared to the PNA that France's flag carrier, Air France, already got the approval of CAAP and the Manila International Airport Authority for the mounting of direct Paris flights starting December this year.

"Frequency is three to four times weekly. We (CAAP and MIAA) already approved it, but of course I couldn’t speak on behalf of the Civil Aeronautics Board," Tamayo said.

Bautista said the Philippines-France partnership evolves around air worthiness, exchange of notes on carbonization, safety, digitalization and other pressing issues, as well as capacity building among CAAP personnel through training.

Tamayo said the partnership started in 2018 and many CAAP personnel were already trained.

"We need the training for us to be following the international standards," he said. (PNA)