DOTC grills CebuPac execs over holiday cancellations, delays

Aviation and airport officials on Monday grilled Cebu Pacific over the widespread flight delays and cancellations that affected thousands of passengers over the Christmas holidays last week.

 

The panel of investigators were not convinced by the reasons of the delays and cancellations given by Cebu Pacific, according to a GMA News TV's "Balitanghali" report on Monday.

 

Main reasons given by the airline are air traffic congestion, weather condition, and sudden absence from work of ground crews.

 

A total of 719 flights were delayed and 20 flights were canceled or 70 percent of its total flights from Dec. 24 to Dec. 26.

 

The panel will still evaluate if there will be a second round of investigation. It will issue a recommendation by mid-January next year.

 

Cebu Pacific may face a penalty or a suspension of permit, according to the report.

 

In a text message to GMA News Online, DOTC spokesman Michael Arthur Sagcal said: "We expect a comprehensive report before the year ends."

 

According to Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), it was the first time that a large number of passengers were not able to board their flights.

 

Manila International Airport Authority general manager Jose Angel Honrado said the problem was that landing and take-off were not on-time.

 

If air traffic congestion or weather condition were the problem, why was Cebu Pacific the only airline with many canceled or delayed flights compared to other airlines, he said.

 

CAB is worried over the large number of staff that did not show up for work during the time where flock of passengers at Terminal 3 where most expected.

 

According to its monitoring, there was one instance that only two check in counters were open.

 

The panel said companies that were outsourced by Cebu Pacific should explain regarding the absence of staffs at a crucial time.

 

According to the report, Cebu Air vice president for corporate affairs Jorenz Tañada refused to issue a statement.

 

The Department of Transportation and Communication Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya on Sunday said the agency was considering prohibiting airlines from overbooking their flights during peak travel seasons. —Kathryn Mae P. Tubadeza/NB, GMA News