MANILLA, Philippines, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Philippine President Gloria Arroyo said Friday she is open to a proposal to allow Singapore's budget airlines entry into Philippine air space.
"I welcome that ... a liberalized air policy ... I can say that the direction would be towards liberalization," she told local and foreign correspondents at a joint press conference with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Long, the Inquirer reported.
In their bilateral meeting, the Singapore prime minister said he urged the president to renegotiate the two countries' air agreement to allow Singapore's budget airlines to enter Philippine air space.
"I told the president we should consider not just allowing our budget airlines to use your air space but renegotiating our air agreement," Lee said. He added that more flights between the two countries would encourage more tourists and boost trade relations.
He said that there are only 70 flights a week between the Philippines and Singapore, while there are 200 flights weekly between Singapore and Thailand.
