DOTC mulls sanctions against Cebu Pacific over Christmas chaos

Passengers wait for their flight at Naia Terminal 3, Pasay City, Saturday. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / KIMBERLY DELA CRUZ

MANILA, Philippines–Cebu Pacific could face “full range of sanctions” over its numerous delayed and canceled flights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 3 during the Christmas rush, Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said Tuesday.

“The flying public deserves much better service than that. We sympathize with those who lost precious hours with their families and loved ones on Christmas, and we will see to it that Cebu Pacific will answer for any possible mismanagement,” Abaya said.

“What is clear from the panel’s initial report is that Cebu Pacific had an appalling number of delayed flights from December 24 to 26. Cebu Pacific is blaming air traffic congestion, but this does not appear to be supported by the facts,” Abaya said.

Abaya said the government panel investigating the widespread complaints of flight delays and cancellations doubted the carrier’s explanations, prompting it to gather its own data. Cebu Pacific could be slapped with fines, suspension, and even franchise revocation.

“Six flights arrived late at Naia in the early morning of December 24 alone. There was no congestion yet at that time. These incidents of tardiness caused a domino effect of delays throughout the rest of the day. And yet Cebu Pacific claims that it was congestion that caused the mess,” Abaya said.

“Worse, in the morning of December 26, only two check-in counters for domestic flights were open. It was not until 11:00 a.m. that more counters were opened, after CAB and MIAA intervened,” he added.

The transport official said that according to data submitted by Cebu Pacific to the panel on December 29, the airline had a total of 20 canceled flights and 288 delayed flights at Naia 3 from December 24 to 26.

The breakdown submitted by the carrier is as follows:

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