EU lifts ban on Philippine Airlines
The European Union has lifted a ban on Philippine Airlines (PAL) flying into its airspace after the national carrier resolved aviation safety concerns, the EU ambassador to Manila said on Wednesday.
“Today the EU has decided to lift the air ban on Philippine Airlines,” said EU Ambassador to the Philippines, Guy Ledoux.
He said PAL would be allowed to fly into the 28-member bloc starting today, which will spur tourism and business links.
“Direct connections will provide a strong additional incentive for European tourists to visit the Philippines,” Ledoux said.
PAL president and CEO Ramon S. Ang told reporters at a joint news conference with Ledoux that the airline planned to begin flights to London, Paris, Rome and Amsterdam by September or October.
Ledoux said the decision applied only to PAL, but the ban on other Philippine carriers may also be lifted because of a general improvement in the country’s aviation safety standards and positive work by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP). “This decision is very encouraging and is a first success for both CAAP and Philippine Airlines,” he said. Ledoux noted the improvements in the implementation of aviation safety standards by PAL and Cebu Pacific.
Cebu Pacific, however, was excluded from the decision following the June 2 crash landing by one of its aircraft at Davao International Airport. No one was hurt in the accident, which the CAAP attributed to pilot error. “The unfortunate accident in June showed some weaknesses still to be addressed,” Ledoux said. But Cebu Pacific, he said, still has the opportunity to fly to Europe “if it can provide evidence” that it meets international aviation safety standards.
