Cebu Pacific passengers miss flights due to lack of counter personnel

(Updated 11:10 p.m.) The Civil Aeronautics Board has asked Cebu Pacific to explain a lack of counter personnel that led to some passengers being left behind by their flights on Friday.

 

According to a report on "24 Oras" aired Friday evening, passengers like OFW Elmer Bajao missed their flights despite being at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 at least two hours before they were supposed to fly out.


 

"Parang 15 meters na lang pero hindi gumagalaw ang pila kasi walang tao na umaasikaso," Bajao said. He said he would try to get a seat on another flight but added he might have to stay at a hotel for the night.

 

"I won't tell my friends to come here to the Philippines," an unnamed tourist said in the report. "For me, this is the first time and last time."

 

Cebu Pacific said it would refund or rebook passengers who missed their flights because of the slow check-in procedure.

 

"Marami po sa mga regular counter agents namin, di nakapasok on time or nakapasok at all kasi over the last couple of days, medyo nag-overtime or nag-stretch," Juan Lorenzo Tañada, Cebu Pacific vice president for corporate affairs, explained in the report.

 

Cebu Pacific managed to open all 32 check-in counters at Terminal 3 by noon, but the delayed morning flights affected flights later in the day.

 

The holiday rush at NAIA has given many passengers headaches this week.

 

On Dec. 24, 192 flights were delayed and 11 were cancelled — five of those because of a lack of airplanes. Another 144 flights were delayed on Christmas Day. — JDS, GMA News