PH, Korea agree to more flight seats a week between Manila, Incheon

The Philippines and Korea have signed a memorandum of understanding on increasing the weekly seat capacity from Manila to Incheon and vice versa, by 10,000 from the present 20,000 to 30,000, the Department of Transportation has said.

The MOU also imposes no limits on flights from Manila to all other points in Korea as well as flights from points outside Manila to all points in Korea. 

The DOTr said the increase in capacity would be felt by the market once airlines took advantage of the opportunity to carry more passenger traffic between the capital cities of the two countries.

Koreans are among the top tourism markets in the Philippines. As of May 2024, data from the Department of Tourism (DOT) showed that Korean tourists in the Philippines reached around 682,362. 

DOTr Assistant Secretary for Aviation and Airports Enrique Antonio Esquivel III led the Philippine delegation during the signing.

He was joined by DOT Undersecretary Shahlimar Hofer Tamano, Department of Labor and Employment Assistant Secretary Lennard Constantine Serrano, and Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Raly Tejada.

Meanwhile, Jiyoung Shim, Director of the International Air Transport Division of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport led the Korean delegation.

Also present were Daeyoung Kim, Assistant Director for the International Air Transport Division of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport; Jaehyung Kim, Assistant Director for the International Air Transport Division of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and Jeeun Song, Interpreter for International Air Transport Division of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. —NB, GMA Integrated News