Cathay Pacific Airways has applied to the Philippines Government for approval to operate all-cargo flights to Manila despite uncertainty over the future of air services between the two points after the handover.
The application, filed with the Philippine Civil Aeronautics Board, was expected to be approved within days, officials said, and Cathay would be allowed to operate up to four cargo runs a week.
A Cathay spokesman denied the move was linked to the recent failure of government talks aimed at forging an air services agreement between Hong Kong and the Philippines.
He said it was a commercial move rather than a negotiating ploy to show Hong Kong was taking a 'hardball' stance.
No Hong Kong airlines operate flights to the Philippines while Manila-based Pacific East Asia Cargo has been servicing Kai Tak airport from Subic Bay since late last year.
Continued flights between Hong Kong and the Philippines after next year's handover of the territory to China were in early February thrown into jeopardy with a breakdown in negotiations over an air services agreement.
