The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) has ordered a 52 million peso fine against Philippines based budget airline, Cebu Pacific. Yhe fine is for the the flight cancellations and delays during the Christmas holidays last 2014.
The decision was made by the government panel composed of the CAB, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), and the Manila International Airport Authority.
CAAP said they made the decision to penalize Cebu Pacific with such amount based on the number of affected passengers, which reached more than 10,000.
CAB director Jose Victor Luciano said the board decided to impose a P5,000 fine for every affected passenger. “Cebu Pacific was fined P52 million. That was based on the 10,400 passengers that were affected by delays and cancellations on December 24, 25, and 26,” said Luciano.
Cebu Pacific vice president for corporate affairs Jorenz Tañada said it has yet to receive any official communication from CAB.
Cebu Pacific Air
“Regarding the reported fine imposed on CEB, we have yet to receive an official communication from CAB. Until then, we cannot give any comment,” he said.
“The fine is based on a finding by the board that Cebu Pacific’s operational lapses and passenger mishandling constitutes a breach of the basic condition of its CPCN (Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity), i.e. to provide proper, suitable, convenient, safe, adequate and reliable air transportation services,” he said.
Cebu Pacific has faced thousand of complaints of the Chirstmas Holidays due to numerous cancelled and delayed flights. They’ve reasoned out various topics such as employee leaves, airport traffic and others as the culprit of delayed flights. Most of these incidents happened from December 24 to 26, 2014.
Cebu Pacific even cited the bad weather during Christmas day as a culprit for causing delayed and cancelled flights.
Space constraints following the transfer of 5 major international airlines to NAIA terminal 3 has caused the long queues for their passengers.
Such reasons and the complaints of passengers has prompted various government agencies to investigate the incidents.
Based on the information Data given by Cebu Pacific to the government panel showed the airline had 20 cancelled flights and 288 delayed flights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminal 3 from December 24 to 26.
“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,” Transportation Secretary Jun Abaya had earlier said.
The airline can still file a motion for reconsideration for the said penalty.
LIKE and Follow us on Facebook at 1 PISO FARE for more Travel News and Airlines Promos
LIKE and SHARE
janah says
Pano mag book