EAGA open-air pact now covers GenSan, Puerto Princesa

DAVAO CITY – The Mindanao Economic Development Council announced the inclusion of the airports in General Santos and Puerto Princesa cities among areas where airlines in the BIMP – EAGA sub-region can bring both cargo and passengers.

MEDCO announced this as a push in improving air connectivity within the sub-regional grouping.

The two cities’ airports are among six in the BIMP EAGA areas were added to the list to be granted with Fifth Freedom Traffic Rights (FFTR), a privilege to airlines to bring cargo and passengers from one country to another other than its home country.

An example of this arrangement is the scheme used by Singaporean carrier Silk Air in its Singapore-Davao-Cebu route. And also the Asian Spirit flights from Manila-Davao-Palau, Romeo Montenegro, Medco’s information chief, said. (Photo courtesy of the official 12th ASEAN Summit website)MEDCO said the EAGA Transport, Infrastructure and ICT Development Cluster in its meeting in Puerto Princesa recently agreed to grant fifth freedom traffic rights for carriers to bring passengers and cargo in the two cities’ airports.

Cluster officials also granted rights for the airports in Manado and Tarakan in Indonesia, and the State of Labuan and Miri in Malaysia.

The existing airports under the open air pact pact are in Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei Darussalam, Balikpapan and Pontianak in Indonesia, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching in Malaysia, as well as Davao and Zamboanga City in the Philippines.