Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade. INQUIRER file photo / Junjie Mendoza
MANILA, Philippines — The on-time performance (OTP) of airlines, particularly the Philippine Airlines’ (PAL) and Cebu Pacific’s, has “significantly improved” two weeks after they have signed a pledge of commitment to improve the aviation sector, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Friday.
PAL Vice President for flight operations Capt. Stanley Ng reported to DOTr that PAL’s monthly average OTP improved to nearly 80 percent in June as compared to the below 60 percent recorded in April. So far this July, PAL’s running average OTP is at 82 percent.
Meanwhile, for Cebu Pacific, Chief Operations Officer (COO) Michael Ivan Shau noted that from 60 percent in June, the airline’s OTP improved to 77 percent in July, and 80 percent during peak days.
The DOTr said OTP rating for airports is measured by the number of departures and arrivals that take place in less than 15 minutes after the scheduled departure and arrival times, including cancellations.
The airlines noted that the airlines’ improvement came after signing a pledge of commitment with the Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa), Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), and Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB).
The airline companies pledged to help decongest the Ninoy International Airport (Naia) by improving on-time flight performance, supporting the development of other gateways including Sangley Airport in Cavite, and improving the travel experience of air passengers.
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“I can confirm that our participation in the Pledge of Commitment really helped improve our OTP. At the same time, we will continue to improve our internal processes and collaborate with CAAP, MIAA and CAB to make sure that our passengers will have a better experience when traveling to the Philippines,” Ng said in a statement.
“Coordinated and concerted efforts from all stakeholders resulted in OTP improvement at the NAIA, and we will remain in cooperation with the government under the Pledge of Commitment to ease the travel of the public,” Shau also said in a statement.
The airline officials also noted that the daily publication of OTP, as ordered by Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade, has been helpful in pushing for improved performance and promoting the airlines’ accountability to the air-riding public.
The transport chief encouraged the airlines to improve further for the comfort and convenience of the riding public.
“I thank PAL and Cebu Pacific for their efforts to improve OTP. It is my hope that this be increased, and that more and more airlines follow suit,” Tugade said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Miaa General Manager Ed Monreal said the improvement of the airlines’ OTP is a sign of effective collaboration and cooperation between the government and the private sector to improve aviation services for the Filipinos.
“I laud the airline operators for doing their part to give Filipinos a comfortable life through improved on-time flight performance. We shall continue in this direction as we work on a number of solutions to decongest the Naia,” Monreal also said in the statement. /jpv