Skyjet resumes operations after winning TRO
BUDGET airline Skyjet resumed its operations on Friday after obtaining a 20-day temporary restraining order (TRO) which halts the suspension order earlier issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).
In a statement, Skyjet said that Pasay Regional Trial Court Branch 119 issued the TRO after finding the CAAP’s suspension “premature.”
“The suspension order was premature and was done without investigation and proper inspection of the aircraft of the plaintiff. Hence, violative of constitutional and economic rights of plaintiff and causing damages to the airline company,” the court’s decision read.
Skyjet will be able to continue its operations while the case is being heard in court.
The company’s president Dino Reyes Chua hailed the court’s decision and lamented that the CAAP suspension order was a “nightmare” for the airline.
“We really felt that our constitutional and economic rights were violated. We are doing this for the whole aviation industry so that no other independent airline operator could suffer these losses in the future. This is truly a nightmare for our company and to our thousands of affected passengers,” Chua said.
Skyjet Chief Operating Officer (COO) Capt. Ted Fojas said that the CAAP’s suspension order affected about 3,000 passengers.
Aside from praying for preliminary injunction, the low-cost airline also filed a P20 million damage claim against CAAP officials for the losses they incurred during the implementation of the suspension order.
Skyjet has regular flights to Batanes, Busuanga and Boracay. It also flies to the luxury resort destination Balesin Island Club in Quezon.
Last May 18, the CAAP suspended Skyjet and SEAir after failing last month’s aviation safety assessment conducted by a European Union (EU) safety team.
The EU assessment team observed eight safety concerns on Skyjet’s operations which range from flight data monitoring and quality assurance to airworthiness and maintenance control.
CAAP Director General William Hotchkiss said that the suspension may be lifted “upon full compliance with this authority (CAAP) and with the corrective actions undertaken to mitigate the safety concerns raised.” AC
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