Manila-Incheon weekly flight capacity increases to 30K seats

From the previous 20,000 weekly seats between Manila and Incheon for designated airlines, the two Asian nations agreed on an increase of 10,000 seats, bringing the new weekly seat capacity to 30,000. (Pexels Photo)

By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – The weekly seat entitlements on flights between Manila and South Korea’s Incheon Airport have increased to 30,000 following the signing of a new air services agreement.

In a statement Monday, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said the new memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Philippines and South Korea would update air services capacity entitlements.

From the previous 20,000 weekly seats between Manila and Incheon for designated airlines, the two Asian nations agreed on an increase of 10,000 seats, bringing the new weekly seat capacity to 30,000.

“The new agreement further liberalizes the third and fourth [freedoms of the air], without imposing limits on flights from Manila to all other points in South Korea,” the DOTr said.

The seat increase is meant to address the increasing interest of Filipino and South Korean tourists since the Covid-19 pandemic.

All flights from outside Manila to all points in South Korea will continue to remain open or without limits.

Freedoms of the air are commercial aviation rights that grant a country’s airlines the privilege to enter and land in another country’s airspace.

The third and fourth freedoms are the rights to carry passengers and cargo from one country to another and vice versa.

Data from the Department of Tourism show that incoming Korean tourists in the Philippines have reached 682,362 as of May 2024.

“The increase in capacity will be felt by the market once airlines take advantage of the opportunity to carry more passenger traffic between the capital cities of the two countries,” the DOTr said.

The MOU was finalized on July 4 following two-day consultations.

The Philippine delegation also proposed an amendment to the two countries’ air transport agreement that would allow the Philippines to designate its airlines based on the airline’s principal place of business and place of incorporation in the Philippines.

“Though an agreement on the matter was not reached, the two delegations agreed to further discuss the same, along with Korea’s proposal to allow third country code-sharing arrangements, in the next round of consultations,” the DOTr said.