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PAL, Cebu Pacific waive rebooking fees; ZestAir transfers flights to AirAsia

By DANESSA O. RIVERA, GMA News

Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Cebu Pacific carriers are waiving rebooking fees on flights canceled because of monsoon rains enhanced by Storm Maring (Trami) that plague Luzon since over the weekend.
 
On its official Twitter account, PAL said rebooking penalties — for both PAL and budget carrier PAL Express — are waived for passengers who are unable to take their flights Monday. 
 

"Your airline is waiving rebooking fees within 30 days from original flight date of passengers affected by weather-related disruptions," PAL said in an advisory.
 
"However, if a passenger rebooks a flight and booking class is not available, then fare difference will be collected," it added.
 
PAL also said there were no flight cancellations as of 7 a.m. but delays are expected due to current weather conditions. 
 
Budget carrier Cebu Pacific has also lifted rebooking fees.  
 
"Luzon-based passengers who are unable to take their flights today (August 19, 2013), due to flooding in their area or en route to the airport, may rebook their flights without penalties for travel within 30 days," it said in an advisory in its official Twitter account.
 
 
Cebu Pacific flights 5J 513/514 or Manila-San Jose-Manila this morning have been canceled because of bad weather. Aside from the rebooking option, guests on these flights may opt for a full travel fund or refund.
 
The Department of Transportation and Communications said several flights were canceled:
 
(Due to bad weather)
  • 5J-153 Manila to San Jose, Mindoro
  • 5J-154 San Jose, Mindoro to Manila 
 

(Due to aircraft situation)
  • 5J-821 Manila to Virac
  • 5J-822 Virac to Manila
  • 5J-521 Manila to Naga
  • 5J-522 Naga to Manila
  • 5J-901 Manila to Caticlan
  • 5J-902 Caticlan to Manila
 
(Due to sunset limitation or insufficient night lighting)
  • 2P-055 Manila to Caticlan
  • 2P-056 Caticlan to Manila
 
(Due to aircraft on ground)
  • 5J-896 Caticlan to Manila
  • 5J-899 Manila to Caticlan
  • 5J-905 Manila to Caticlan
  • 5J-906 Caticlan-Manila
 
Meanwhile, passengers of low-cost carrier ZestAir bound for Kuala Lumpur and Manila will be transferred to partner AirAsia beginning Monday following suspension by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

 
It advised passengers of ZestAir flight Z2 948 departing from Manila to Kuala Lumpur to bring their original ZestAir itinerary and head to NAIA Terminal 4 by 4 p.m. as a special AirAsia Flight AK9802 departing at 6 p.m. will accommodate them.
 
More than 6,000 passengers are affected on Monday alone, ZestAir said, noting "it has offered all affected passengers a full refund or transfer to available flights operated by other airlines.
 
"As of 2:00 p.m., there are 150 affected passengers at NAIA Terminal 4 waiting to be transferred or accommodated in other airlines. Most of our affected passengers going to Iloilo, Kalibo, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Tacloban and Tagbilaran have already been transferred to other airlines as well," it added.
 
Passengers of Zest Air flight Z2-949 departing from Kuala Lumpur to Manila the same day will be transferred to a special AirAsia Flight AK9803 departing at 10:20 p.m., ZestAir said.
 
Last Friday, CAAP suspended Zest Airways Inc. from flying in Philippine skies as it failed to comply with flight standards by operating without an accountable manager since July 19. 
 
Under Philippine Civil Aviation Regulation, an accountable manager ensures all flight operations and maintenance activities can be financed and carried out to the highest degree of safety standards. 
 
In an advisory on its Facebook page on Sunday, Zest Airways said it is working to have the suspension lifted, but asked its passengers to bear with it for the moment. 

"We are confident that the suspension will be lifted soon and," ZestAir said in its Twitter account.

Last May, Tan Sri Anthony Francis “Tony” Fernandes of Malaysia's AirAsia Group, through Philippines’ AirAsia, acquired an 85 percent economic interest and 49 percent voting rights in ZestAir as well as a 100 percent interest in Yao’s Asiawide Airways Inc. — VS, GMA News
Tags: airlines, cancelledflights, dotccanceledflights, pal, cebupacificair
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