The Philippines and Rwanda have signed their first air service contract to open up the possibility of business flights between the two nations
The Philippines and Rwanda have signed their first air service agreement to open up the prospect of commercial flights between the two countries.
On July 25, the Philippine Air Negotiation Panel, a multi- agency body, signed an understating memorandum containing the air service contract with Rwanda, a tiny African country known for its lush forest parks and gorilla trekking tours.
Under the agreement, for designated airlines and cargo activities up to 400 tonnes, both nations will receive seven weekly flights.
In addition, the air contract enables these airlines to market services on third-country carriers provided that third- country carriers have the suitable route privileges and are recorded in a state that permits such activities
The contract marks the African country’s fifth air deal. Air contracts with Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya, and South Africa were earlier signed by the Philippines.
Whether local carriers were planning to mount flights to any destination on the African mainland was not instantly apparent. Ethiopian Airlines has been flying directly to the Philippines so far.
The negotiating panel of the Philippines is chaired by Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Jose Eduardo Malaya.
Members of the panel include Transportation Assistant Secretary Manuel Antonio Tamayo, Jacinto Paras Assistant Secretary of Labor, Edwin Enrile Assistant Secretary of Tourism, Carmelo Arcilla Executive Director of Civil Aeronautics, Igor Bailen Executive Director of OTLA and Joan Karen Riola, Director of Trade and Industry.
Arcilla said previously that in 2019, the Philippines had been watching air talks with Morocco and Jordan.
He said the scheduled talks were primarily for diplomatic reasons, adding that the Philippines lately had diplomatic talks with Chile and Timor-Leste.
Arcilla said the purpose of these discussions was to strengthen relationships and served as a manner to explore future possibilities for trade and investment.
