Congress urged to probe ‘horrendous’ flight cancelations, delays

MANILA, Philippines — Congress should launch an investigation into the recent delays and flight cancelations of some airlines, Makabayan senatorial bet Neri Colmenares and reelectionist Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate said Friday.

“An investigation must be launched to the airline delays and cancellations especially since we have received reports that Cebu Pacific has long been overextending their aircraft usage per day that even the maintenance window is being sacrificed,” Zarate said in a statement.

LIST: Cancelled Cebu Pacific, CebGo flights from April 28-30

Citing reports, Zarate said Cebu Pacific has been allegedly adding more destinations and frequencies without enough aircraft. He said, “union busting moves of the management to harass and fire their organized workers” have also been ongoing.

Colmenares meanwhile called on the 18th Congress to pass their Air Passengers Bill of Rights which was filed during the 17th Congress as House Bill No. 6191.

“If enacted into law air passengers will be protected and compensated with P10,000 when airline delays and cancellations occur,” the Bayan Muna chair said.

“I myself suffered a seven-hour delay of my CebuPacific flight last April for Bicol and I was forced not to attend a Miting de Avance in Bacolod last May 1 because of flight delays of Philippine Airlines (PAL). This is very unprofessional for the airline carriers and they must be held accountable to consumers,” he recounted.

On Sunday, Cebu Pacific admitted that in the past few days, it monitored “an unprecedented level of disruption to [its] operation” that led to some flight delay or cancellations.

“Cebu Pacific is working with the airport authorities, regulatory agencies and other stakeholders to make things better for our passengers,” the airline assured.  /muf