Philippines open skies to focus on four airports

Philippines' President Benigno Aquino and new Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Director General Ramon Gutierrez confirmed the country's new pocket open skies policy would focus on liberalising operations to/from secondary airports, to initially include Cebu, Davao, Zamboanga and Laoag (Philippine Daily Inquirer/Business Mirror, 05-Jan-2011). Bacolod-Silay City International Airport, General Santos International Airport and Subic Bay International Airport are also considered secondary airports but are not included in the initial policy. Philippines Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim stated airports are now being readied for the implementation of the new policy. Philippines' Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Immigration and the Bureau of Quarantine will deploy additional staff once additional flights start from the airports. Mr Lim added the policy will promote competition among airlines and lower fares to/from the Philippines as a result. The executive order (EO) is reportedly to be introduced from 07-Jan-2011 (BusinessWorld, 06-Jan-2011). Mr Aquino stated the policy affirms an existing EO that allowed a pocket open skies policy.