The Philippines is set to hold negotiations with Macau for the increase in seat entitlements for airline passengers between the two countries.
 
Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza said the RP-Macau air talks will be held April 24-26 in Macau.
 
"Macau is scheduled this month. Hong Kong will be next," he said.
 
The Philippine panel is composed of officials from the Department of Transportation and Communications, Civil Aeronautics Board, Department of Tourism, Department of Trade and Industry and representatives from airline companies.
 
Philippine Airlines (PAL) president Jaime Bautista said Tuesday night that the existing bilateral agreement between the two countries consists of 450 weekly seat entitlements.
 
The flag carrier would like to be awarded at least a total of 1,050-weekly seat entitlements to be able to service daily flights to Macau.
 
"We want to operate daily flights to Macau by making use of our Airbus A320," Bautista said.
 
PAL will start flights to Macau on May 1. It will service the Manila-Macau route five times per week.
 
"PAL is not the only airline that would want to service Macau. The current entitlements are not enough. In fact, we haven't started our operations for that route and yet our May and June slots are already fully utilized," he said.  
 
Cebu Pacific, the airline unit of JG Summit Holdings, also wants to fly to Macau from the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark, Pampanga. It wanted to operate out of Clark to Macau four times a week but the airline is having difficulties seeking approvals to service the route.
 
Aside from Macau, Cebu Pacific also wants to fly to Bangkok, Taipei, Hong Kong and Singapore from Clark.
 
Cebu Pacific is pursuing a 4th operational hub in Clark as soon as all the necessary government approvals to operate to Bangkok, Macau, Taipei, Hong Kong and Singapore are granted.
 
Last year, the Philippines and Korea completed bilateral air talks, with the two countries increasing seat entitlements to 19,000 from 7,000 previously.