PHL to seek more airline seats to Australia

The Philippines wants to double the number of airline seats on Philippine-Australia routes, ahead of a new round of air talks.

The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) is meeting with its Australian counterpart to discuss a proposal to expand the number of seats between the Philippines and Australia.

CAB executive director Carmelo Arcilla said the Philippines initiated the air talks, as it wants to scale up airline capacity to Australia to provide travelers with more flying options.

CAB is working with Australia to double the number of air seats to 60,000. Arcilla said the agency sees the urgency for additional supply, as Australia is becoming a work and study haven for Filipinos.

Philippine and Australian carriers have been mounting new routes and more flights between the two countries.

Low-cost carrier Jetstar Airways plans to launch Manila flights to Perth and Cebu connections to Brisbane by November.

Jetstar, based in Melbourne, is a subsidiary of Australia’s flag carrier Qantas. The flights will run thrice weekly, using the 232-seater Airbus 321NEOs.

Currently, Philippine Airlines (PAL) is the lone airline linking Manila and Perth, and it also reaches Brisbane on a daily basis.

Cebu Pacific also offers Manila services to Melbourne and Sydney on a weekly frequency.

Qantas flies out of Manila to Sydney on a daily schedule and Brisbane four times a week.

According to Australia’s Department of Home Affairs, Filipinos comprise the fifth largest migrant community in Australia, totaling 361,860 as of 2023. Australia is attracting more and more Filipinos for its academic and work opportunities.

Arcilla said Manila, is gaining interest from foreign carriers because of its airport upgrades and tourism drive.

Flag carrier Air India, for instance, is arriving at the Philippines on October 1, to mount weekly flights between Manila and New Delhi using an A321.