Law to toughen air passenger bill of rights needed – commuter group
Passengers wait in line at a check in counter a day after the NAIA terminal 3 experienced power outage causing delayed flights and cancellations on labor day. The Manila International Airport Authority is not ruling out sabotage as a reason behind the power outage that disrupted dozens of flights. INQUIRER/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
MANILA, Philippines — A law that will institutionalize the air passenger’s bill of rights is needed amid recent complaints against airline services, a commuter group said on Monday.
In a statement, The Passenger Forum (TPF) said what while the existing air passenger bill of rights was a welcome development back in 2012, it might be best to have a “legislated version” that will set penalties for airlines responsible for rights violations.
TPF Convener Primo Morillo suggested each airline must be penalized based on “negative milestones” — like hefty fines or even franchise cancellation for violations that are tallied by authorities.
“The Air Passenger Bill of Rights was a welcome development during its time and it was helpful,” he recalled.
“However, with the most recent rise in incidents of flight cancellations and other air transport problems, we think it is best to have a legislated version that includes provisions that will penalize erring airline companies,” he observed.
“We should consider some negative milestones for them. Hefty fines should be in place if flight cancellations amount to a total cost of P50 million or a total of 10,000 affected passengers whichever goes first,” Morillo proposed.
“And once the total cost reaches P500 million or (when) the affected passengers are already at 100,000 individuals, franchise cancellation proceedings should commence,” he said.
Morillo did not mention what specific airline was the subject of the complaints.
But some people had expressed online their dismay over the alleged offloading committed by an airline against their passengers.
The problem was encountered among travelers who bought tickets using promo deals.
Offloading and overbooking during peak seasons have prompted lawmakers from House of Representatives and Senate to seek an investigation into a specific airlines’ promo deals.
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