PAL urges gov’t to recover safety rating with FAA
MANILA, Philippines --Flag carrier Philippine Airlines called on the Philippine government to try to recover its safety rating with the United States' Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), saying the carrier’s expansion plans might be stymied because FAA downgraded the country's rating in its international air safety assessment.
"If the Philippines does not recover the Category 1 rating within 18 months, it will seriously affect our plans. We are urging the government to exert effort to recover its Category 1 standing. We are willing to help and offer our resources," PAL president Jaime Bautista said in a press briefing Tuesday afternoon.
INQUIRER.net reported Monday that the FAA had included the Philippines in a list of countries that failed to "provide safety oversight of its air carrier operators in accordance with the minimum safety oversight standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization."
The downgrading affected PAL as the only Philippine flag carrier operating in the US.
Bautista said this might result in foregone revenue corresponding to 10-percent growth.
PAL is getting ready to mount additional flights to the US and Canada.
North America is PAL's biggest regional market, contributing 30 percent of the flag carrier's total revenue.
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