Solons seek probe on airlines not using air bridges

MANILA, Philippines—Two lawmakers are urging the House committee on transportation to look into airline firms’ alleged practice of not using air bridges which they said was inconvenient for passengers.

Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez and Abante Mindanao partylist Representative Maximo Rodriguez, Jr. asked the committee to study, once the third regular session begins in July, House Resolution 2379, which looks into airlines’ refusal to pay the P7,000 per flight fee for the use of air bridges.

They wanted the committee to summon officials of the Manila Airport Authority, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Cebu Pacific, and other airline firms and concerned government agencies to shed light on the issue.

They cited Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist Ramon Tulfo’s article on witnessing how Cebu Pacific officers failed to offer assistance to a disabled passenger as she went down the stairs from one of their flights.

The Cagayan de Oro lawmaker said that the transportation committee should ask the officials why there were separate charges for the use of the airports’ air bridges, whose use they said should not be optional since they are necessary for the convenience of embarking and disembarking passengers, particularly the elderly, children, and the disabled.