05 September 2013 – Around 50 French and foreign ambassadors, including Philippine Ambassador to France Cristina Ortega, visited the Airbus factory in Toulouse on August 30 with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius as part of France’s economic diplomacy efforts.

The Philippines was one of a select group of countries invited to the factory visit, which was part of the annual summer seminar of all French ambassadors.

The Ambassadors were personally toured by Airbus CEO Fabrice Brégier.  During the tour, four Airbus aircraft being painted with the logos of Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific were displayed outside the hangar.

Following the lifting by the European Union of the ban on Philippine Airlines flights on 10 July 2013, travelers can now look forward to direct flights from Manila to various European cities such as Paris.  END