The Bureau of Internal Revenue has scared away Emirates airline.
“Emirates, one of the world’s fastest growing airlines, has decided to end direct flights to Dubai from the Clark International Airport in Pampanga starting May 1 due to low load factor, intense competition, and the controversial excise tax imposed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on jet fuel used for international flights,” reports Lawrence Agcaoili in The Philippine Star.
The airline started its non-stop flights to Clark last October 1, using Boeing 777 with 42 business class flatbed seats and 216 economy cass seats, according to the report.
Emirates, however, will still fly to Dubai three times a day via Manila.
Tourism Congress executive vice president Aileen Clemente has said that the BIR’s excise taxes could lead to an increase of up to $100 per airline ticket depending on the distance (of travel). According to her, the jet fuel used by international airlines should not be slapped with taxes given the reciprocity rules of international agreements the Philippines has with other countries to provide relief to carriers, reports Louella D. Desideria in The Philippine Star.
Photo from Emirates.com
