More Flights to Qatar: PH-Qatar Sign New Air Services Agreement

Wazzup Pilipinas!

An air service agreement increasing the number of flights between Manila and Doha, Qatar has been signed.

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur P. Tugade announced yesterday that Philippines and Qatar have agreed to sign a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on air services, amending a 2015 agreement, to pave way for more flights. The MOU was signed by DOTr Undersecretary for Aviation Capt. Manuel Antonio Tamayo and Abdullah Al Subaey of Qatar.

The new MOU increased the traffic rights between Manila and Doha, from the current 14 flights per week to 18 flights per week for the designated airlines of each country.

Qatar Airways currently operates 14 flights per week to Manila and seven flights per week to Clark, while Philippine Airlines currently operates four flights between Manila and Doha.

The new MOU will increase the flights of Qatar Airways to Manila by four additional flights. This is considered a landmark agreement because it also includes as a condition for Qatar Airways to have flights from Davao within 1 year from commencement of the four additional flights to Manila.

The target for commencement of operation of the four additional flights to Manila is October 2017, at the beginning of the winter schedule.

The expansion of traffic rights is seen to enhance connectivity, facilitate trade, investment, services, and people to people exchange between the two countries.

More importantly, the inclusion of Davao in the route structure of Qatar Airways will provide the much needed linkage for Davao to the major markets of the world. Qatar is directly connected to 161 international destinations. This connectivity will support Davao's emergence as a major economic and commercial hub of the Philippines.