“The federal government has opened the door for more flights to and from the Philippines.  Your airport and your administration are making the most of this opportunity to get more flights, tourists, and lower airfares to and from the Philippines.  I’m confident that in the near future, our island will see more travellers from the Philippines, and the Philippines will see more Guamanians visiting their home country.” — Governor Eddie Baza Calvo
 
New FAA designation offers more opportunities for Philippine flights              
More flights to and from the Philippines may soon be available on Guam.  Governor Eddie Baza Calvo and the A.B. Won Pat International Airport Authority, Guam (GIAA) are courting more routes from Philippine-based airlines that want to increase their reach on our island.  This exciting opportunity became available following an upgrade in the country’s safety rating from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).  GIAA says this is a clear path to increase travel between Guam and the Philippines.
 
Cebu Pacific is interested                                                                                                     
Cebu Pacific is just one example of airlines interested in Guam.  Under the FAA’s lower safety rating, the company formally applied to lease an American aircraft to service the island.  The new, upgraded designation means Cebu Pacific can use their own aircrafts, equipment, and crew for direct service to Guam.
 
Opportunity for PAL expansion                                                                                            
The new rating also opens up opportunities for other airlines–including existing partners like Philippine Airlines, to increase their service and frequency of flights.  GIAA and Governor Calvo have already had discussions about increased service from PAL and Cebu Pacific for travel to and from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Manila), Clark International Airport (Angeles), and Mactan-Cebu International Airport (Lapu-Lapu/Metro Cebu).
 
Chuck Ada, GIAA Executive Manager, stated, “With the FAA’s announcement of the Republic of the Philippines’ compliance with international safety standards, there exists real opportunity to see increased frequency and new originating points in the Philippines direct to Guam, with an existing carrier or services by a new carrier.  This is really advantageous for Guam, and expands its marketing appeal for Philippine carriers to start services to Guam.  We definitely expect to see results of this new opportunity and look forward to expansion in our air service portfolio with additional flights that not only will increase arrivals, but increase trade and business activity between Guam and the Philippines.”
 
‘Category 1′ rating means Philippine-based airlines are safest to use             
According to a release from the FAA, the Republic of the Philippines received an upgraded safety rating because it complies with international safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
 
Since the country has been given a “Category 1” rating, the Republic of the Philippines’ air carriers can add flights and service to the United States and carry the code of U.S. carriers.  The country held this designation until January 2008, when the FAA downgraded it.  The new rating is based on a March 2014 FAA review of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.
 

***End of Release***

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