THE Philippines and Malaysia on Wednesday agreed to expand their air-services agreement, fielding 2,520 more seats between the two countries effective immediately.

At the end of the two-day air talks, members of the air panel agreed for more seat entitlements on the Manila-Kuala Lumpur route as the previous air pact only allows 2,300 weekly seats.

“The existing 2,300 seats between Manila and Kuala Lumpur are fully utilized by the Philippine side,” said Carmelo Arcilla, executive director of the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), in an interview.

He cited Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines and Malaysian Airlines, which are all using the 2,300-weekly seat entitlements. Air Asia, added Arcilla, also currently operates between Clark and Kota Kinabalu.

The CAB official said both countries also agreed on unlimited traffic rights to airports outside of Manila, in keeping with the spirit of Executive Order 29, the policy implementing an open-sky policy.