Philippine Airlines (PR, Manila Ninoy Aquino International) and Cebu Pacific Air (5J, Manila Ninoy Aquino International) have been given the go-ahead to add flights to the United States after the Federal Aviation Administration promoted the south-east Asian nation to Category 1 safety status having been downgraded to Category 2 in January 2008.
In a statement, the FAA said the Philippines' return to Category 1 status was based on a March 2014 FAA review of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).
"A Category 1 rating means the country’s civil aviation authority complies with ICAO standards. With the International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) Category 1 rating, the Filipino air carriers can add flights and service to the US and carry the code of US carriers," it said.
Philippine Airlines currently serves Los Angeles International, Honolulu, San Francisco, Toronto Pearson and Vancouver International and has outlined plans to add new East Coast destinations including New York JFK, Miami International and Chicago O'Hare using its new fleet of B777-300(ER)s. For its part, Cebu intends to enter the Guam and Hawaiian markets in the short term.
In a related development, following extensive lobbying by the CAAP, the European Commission has removed Cebu Pacific from the bloc's Banned Operator's List paving the way for it to begin flights to Europe.
"Following last year's removal of Philippine Airlines from the safety list, this is seen as further proof of the gradual improvement in air safety in the Philippines," the Commission said its latest update.
The bloc has, however, maintained its embargo on the country's other airlines.
