Emirates disputes PAL’s claim

Manila Standard Today
November 13, 2012
By Lailany P. Gomez

Emirates Air denied the Philippine Airlines’ claim that the seven flight frequencies between Dubai and Manila the Middle Eastern carrier wants to add is counterproductive and unjustified.

Emirate’s Philippine manager Gigie Baroa said in a letter to Civil Aeronautics Board executive director Carmelo Arcilla the airline’s winter schedule would not undermine the confidential memorandum of understanding signed by both governments in September this year. The new schedule would take effect on Jan. 1, 2013.

“Contrary to PR’s [Philippine Airlines] assertion that it was the intention of the two governments that no more than 28 weekly frequencies were to be offered by each side on the agreed routes between UAE and Manila, it was in the fact the agreement of the aeronautical authorities of the two governments that the pre-existing borrowing of unused entitlements could continue alongside the additional daily services granted under the new confidential memorandum of understanding of Sept. 6,” Baroa said.

“This must be since neither government raised the possibility that the new CMOU would alter the pre-existing situation. Had they intended otherwise the two governments would have recorded that decision in the document, which they did not and for very good reason,” Baroa added.

Emirates said it was the intention of the two governments that the total capacity on the Dubai-Manila route be increased, including via Emirates’ third daily service, in response to the extraordinary size and growth of the market demand on the route.