RP-Bahrain air talks another midnight deal?

Byline: Neal H. Cruz

ON MONDAY, THE PHILIPPINES AND THAT small but rich sheikdom in the Middle East, Bahrain, will hold another round (the fifth in eight years) of air talks that the Philippine government has already lost, or, more accurately, seems to have already given away, to the rich sheiks. The talks are about giving Bahrains Gulf Air, which is owned by the sheiks, extra flights to the Philippines. Gulf Air already has 14 flights a week to Manila. It wants these to be increased to 21 per week. And Philippine negotiators are in a hurry to cave in to Gulf Air; they want the dirty deed done before they leave office this June. This forthcoming air agreement is another midnight deal.

The additional flights will bring no benefits to the Philippines. Instead, they could destroy the viability of Philippine carriers.

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