EU ban lifted, Philippines eyes flight talks with France
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The Philippines wants to start talks with France on airline flights in early 2014 as part of efforts to revise outdated air-service agreements and as local airlines seek to expand to the continent after a ban on Philippine carriers was lifted two months a
Civil Aeronautics Board executive director Carmelo Arcilla said discussions on gaining expanded seat entitlements were expected to be held by January 2014.
The plan comes as the Philippines completed a successful round of talks with Italy at the start of this month. Under that deal, the Philippines got 14 flight entitlements from Italy, replacing a previous agreement dated 1969, which provided for only one flight entitlement. Getting more seats to Europe would immediately benefit flag carrier Philippine Airlines, which announced earlier that it would start a nonstop Manila to London service in November. PAL also plans to fly to Paris, Rome and Amsterdam.
