DIRECT FLIGHTS TO NEW ZEALAND EYED

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has expressed his desire to further boost tourism and trade ties between the Philippines and New Zealand through the restoration of air links between the two countries.

"Filipinos would love to go to New Zealand. And I do believe that New Zealanders would like to see the Philippines as well. So, I think that's another area of interest that we should explore and hope to promote in your stay here," he told New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines Catherine Rosemary McIntosh, who visited Malacañang last Tuesday.

Marcos said he expects both nations' respective regulators and carriers to discuss the matter soon.

The Chief Executive said that connectivity between the two countries would help spur the economic transformation he envisions for the Philippines.

The Manila airport, he said, is full, so the government's thrust is to upgrade regional airports.

"We need two new airports. We are in the process of building them, but for now, I think the way to go is to provide access to the smaller regional airports, which are close to or within the tourist destination," Marcos said.

"But then there's the business [passengers], too, and we are also trying to decongest Manila," he added.

McIntosh said it would be great to have direct air service from Manila to New Zealand restored, noting the volume of Philippine-bound passengers who travel via Sydney, Australia.

"But a significant proportion of the Sydney to Manila passengers actually come from New Zealand first. It's a good proportion that I think we can make it commercially viable," she said.

2024-05-08T16:17:29Z dg43tfdfdgfd