MANILA, Philippines - Concerned about the plan of European carrier Air France-KLM to cease flights out of Manila, Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas II said he will try to dissuade the airline executives from pursuing the scheme, Malacañang said on Wednesday.

Deputy Presidential Spokesman Abigail Valte said in a news briefing the government recognizes the importance of direct flights between Manila and Europe, in terms of the economy, particularly tourism, and Filipinos’ ease of travel.

 “This is why [Transportation and Communications] Secretary [Manuel] Roxas is going to talk to the airline,” she said.

She said consideration for KLM’s demand to abolish the common carriers tax and the gross Philippine billings tax on cargo and passenger revenues would depend on the outcome of discussions between Roxas and the airline.

KLM, the only European carrier that has direct flights to Manila, had warned that because of its difficulties in the Philippines, it would reduce its flights out of Manila from a daily basis to six times a week.

Beginning April 2012, it will stop direct flights to Manila and will fly via Hong Kong en route to Manila.

KLM officials have said the move would reduce the number of European passengers bound for the Philippines.

Malacañang also said it welcomed inputs from the public on how to improve facilities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 1, which has been voted as the world’s worst airport for 2011 by readers of The Guide to Sleeping in Airports, a web site that reviews the quality and facilities of airports around the world.

“Let us take a look [at the facilities] and if you see something unpleasant, please tell us. Work with us so we can improve it,” Valte said.

She said, however, improvements have and are being made on Naia 1 to improve its facilities. “We are doing what we can to rehabilitate as far as possible our airport,” Valte said.