A major breakthrough in air travel is on the horizon as the Philippines and France are actively working to establish direct flights between Manila and Paris. Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista announced this development during a recent event at the French Ambassador’s residence in Makati City.
“Having direct flights to Paris will give comfort to the passengers. We are working on it. We will announce this in a few weeks,” according to Bautista.
PAL President Stanley Ng confirmed that the airline is actively exploring new routes and that launching direct flights to Paris is a viable possibility. However, he emphasized the need to carefully consider factors such as available flight slots and the arrival of new aircraft to support the expanded operations.
Ng expressed optimism about the renewed partnership between the aviation authorities of the Philippines and France, which was formalized on Tuesday. He believes that this collaboration will lead to improved safety, efficiency, and overall standards across Philippine airports. The timing of this partnership is particularly significant as it coincides with the peak travel season for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in December.
Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Director General Manuel Tamayo revealed that France’s national carrier, Air France, has already secured approval from both CAAP and the Manila International Airport Authority to commence direct flights to Paris starting in December of this year. The planned frequency for these flights is three to four times per week.
Air France previously had a direct flight to Manila, but it was discontinued several years ago. The upcoming flights will mark a significant return for the French airline to the Philippine market.
Secretary Bautista highlighted the multifaceted nature of the Philippines-France partnership, which encompasses areas such as airworthiness, carbon emissions reduction, safety, digitalization, and capacity building for CAAP personnel through training programs. Tamayo noted that this collaboration began in 2018 and has already benefited numerous CAAP personnel who have undergone training to align with international standards.