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CPA courting Philippine Airlines back
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Posted on Apr 23 2002
The Commonwealth Ports Authority will formalize negotiations with Philippine Airlines executives next month, in line with plans to reinstate nonstop Manila-Saipan flights previously provided by the carrier.
CPA Executive Director Carlos H. Salas yesterday disclosed that he is scheduled to meet with PAL officials next month to thresh out concerns raised during a discussion between the CNMI and the Philippine delegations two months back.
Salas pointed out that the meeting also seeks to concretize earlier plans by the Philippine flag carrier to reinstate the Manila-Saipan flights. “We will start negotiations next month to find out what are their plans. They disclosed their plans to reinstate the direct flights when they had a visit two months ago.”
Philippine Consul General Julia Heidemann confirmed this with Gov. Juan N. Babauta during a breakfast meeting yesterday, saying she heard about this two weeks ago.
“I think that they’re trying to finalize and I heard that they might come in sometime in September,” she said.
Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente said this matter has already been brought to the attention of the Marianas Visitors Authority and there has been a scheduled meeting between PAL and the CPA on this matter next month.
PAL executives visited Saipan last February to explore the possibility of providing direct flights between Manila and Saipan, which is home to thousands of Filipino contract workers.
Salas will also request the PAL management to renew its Notice-to-Fly at the U.S. Department of Transportation, a procedure that would also allow the Philippine carrier to exercise its rights to resume air transportation service to the Commonwealth.
“We have to elevate the discussion to a formal negotiation. I would be asking them also to renew their notice to the U.S.-DOT. They have the rights to fly and they can exercise that again. I don’t see any problems on that,” he said.
Reports revealed that PAL will start its direct service to the Northern Marianas in September this year. But Salas said negotiations remain in the early stage to determine whether the Manila-Saipan flights will be reinstated this year or not. (With J. Vallejera)
