OZAMIZ
CITY: The government panel investigating widespread complaints of flight delays
and cancellations by Cebu Pacific during the recent holiday rush doubts the
carrier’s explanations, a new release forwarded to The Philippine Preview said.
The
panel is composed of the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), the Civil Aviation
Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), and the Manila International Airport
Authority (MIAA).
In
the said release, the panel is said to o gather its own data, such as the
number of dislocated passengers; routes affected; and total capacity versus
seats sold and flown to determine overbooking.
Of
the panel, only the CAB has authority to impose fines, suspensions, and even
revocation of franchise if warranted.
DOTC
Sec. Jun Abaya said the panel’s initial report is that Cebu Pacific had an
appalling number of delayed flights from December 24 to 26, and blamed air
traffic congestion, but this does not appear to be supported by the facts.
Six
flights is said to have arrived late at NAIA in the early morning last Dec. 24
alone, there was no congestion yet at that time, explained Abaya.
These
incidents of tardiness caused a domino effect of delays throughout the rest of
the day, and yet Cebu Pacific claims that it was congestion that caused the
mess, he stressed.
In
the morning of Dec. 26, it was reported that only two check-in counters for
domestic flights were open and it was not until 11:00am that more counters were
opened, after CAB and MIAA intervened, the transport chief added.
According
to data submitted by the airline to the panel last Dec. 29, Cebu Pacific had a
total of 20 cancelled flights and 288 delayed flights at NAIA Terminal 3 from
Dec. 24 to 26.
The
flying public deserves much better service than that. We sympathize with those
who lost precious hours with their families and loved ones on Christmas, and we
will see to it that Cebu Pacific will answer for any possible mismanagement,”
Abaya concluded.