The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has announced two major achievements for national carriers with both the Philippines and Canada. The first achievement allows UAE national carriers to operate additional flights to the Philippine capital of Manila, while the second involves granting UAE national carriers additional weekly passenger flights to destinations west of the Ontario-Manitoba border in Canada, with the lifting of restrictions on the exercise of Fifth Freedom rights. In detail, the GCAA held a round of air transport negotiations with the Philippine Civil Aviation Authority between the two countries, where air transport requirements and ways to enhance joint air links were discussed. A statement yesterday noted that these consultations resulted in an agreement to grant the United Arab Emirates additional air traffic rights, enabling UAE national carriers to operate additional flights to the Philippine capital of Manila. The Director General of the GCAA, Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, said: 'This step embodies the close cooperation between the UAE and the Philippines in the civil aviation sector and affirms our commitment to enhancing air connectivity and meeting passengers' needs, which contributes to the growth of the sector and strengthens ties between the two countries.' In the same context, the GCAA announced a significant achievement in air transport between the UAE and Canada following bilateral air negotiations held during the International Civil Aviation Organization's Air Services Negotiation Conference in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. An agreement was reached to grant UAE national carriers additional weekly passenger flights to destinations west of the Ontario-Manitoba border in Canada, with the lifting of restrictions on the exercise of Fifth Freedom rights and unrestricted operation of any number of cargo flights between the two countries. This step marks a significant achievement for UAE national carriers and reflects the strength of the UAE-Canada partnership. The Director General of the GCAA, Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, said: 'This achievement reflects the strength and depth of the long-standing air relations between the UAE and Canada and affirms the GCAA's commitment to developing cooperation frameworks with international partners to meet the needs of the air transport market.' He added: 'These negotiations highlighted the importance of flexibility and coordination between the parties, enabling UAE national carriers to operate additional flights to meet the growing demand for travel and support the growth of the tourism and commercial sectors between the two countries. Moreover, this achievement reflects the GCAA's commitment to continuing to enhance air connectivity and develop infrastructure, which strengthens the UAE's position as a global hub for civil aviation.'
