PH, France expand aviation ties

(UPDATES) THE Philippines and France signed an enhanced civil aviation cooperation «that will make Filipinos happy,» Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said on Wednesday.

Bautista said to jumpstart the enhanced civil aviation cooperation signed recently, a thrice-weekly non-stop Manila-Paris service of Air France has been arranged starting Dec. 8, 2024.

He noted that this was the first non-stop service from Europe to the Philippines under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s administration.

French Ambassador Marie Fontanel. PHOTO FROM PCO

«It's an announcement that will make Filipinos happy because they will be able to fly non-stop from the Philippines to Paris and from Paris to the Philippines,» the transport chief said.

During a recent media briefing, French Ambassador Marie Fontanel thanked the Philippine government for its support of direct flights to Manila after an absence of 20 years.

«The direct non-stop service between the Philippines and France will most likely boost trade, tourism and exchanges between our two countries and, more generally, with the European Union,» Fontanel said.

Advertisement

Based on the arrangement, an Airbus 350-900, configured as a tri-class, will fly 14 hours from Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in Paris to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Fontanel said the CDG and NAIA connection consolidates France's role as a gateway to Europe for the Philippines, which is currently the only major Southeast Asian country without a direct connection to the European Union.

The ambassador said this marks a significant step in the strengthening of relations between France and the Philippines, «offering new opportunities for mobility and economic, tourism, cultural development and student exchange. It will help boost French and European investment in a particularly dynamic Philippine market.»

This initiative also illustrates Air France's commitment to establishing a long-term presence in the Philippine market at a time when flights between Europe and the Philippines are set to increase by +4.1 percent a year between now and 2042.

Advertisement