Cebu Pacific issues apology to passengers affected by Apec

Cebu Pacific Air, the country’s biggest budget carrier, has issued an apology to passengers affected by flight cancellations due to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Leaders’ Summit held in Manila this week.

The apology comes as some passengers took a more proactive stance in airing their complaints. On Thursday, high profile lawyer Raymond Fortun threatened to sue the budget airline amid confusion on the status of his flight home from Vietnam, which was cancelled. Fortun claimed he was not properly informed.

BACKSTORY: Lawyer Fortun threatens Cebu Pacific: See you in court

“The email message was automatically sent to all passengers with flights departing within 72 hours. This resulted in some passengers going to the airport, despite their flight being cancelled,” Cebu Pacific said in an emailed statement.

“CEB sincerely apologizes to passengers with cancelled flights, who still received a system generated email prompting them to check in online,” it added.

READ: Fortun demands public apology from Cebu Pacific

Fortun said he incurred additional, unplanned expenses abroad, apart from schedule disruptions for him and his family.

Cebu Pacific and flag carrier Philippine Airlines, meanwhile, saw over P1 billion in foregone revenue losses due to the Apec summit.

READ: Cebu Pac cancels 260 flights during Apec summit in November

PAL estimated gross revenue losses of about $18.7 million from the cancellation of about 700 flights this week, an announcement showed. Separately, Cebu Pacific estimated that forgone revenues during the period likely hit P400 million from the cancellation of over 800 flights.

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