PH airlines, aviation authorities team up to lick problem of flight delays

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ID-100323028Five Philippine airlines have vowed to collaborate closely with airport and aviation authorities in resolving the current problem of delayed flights.

Executives of Philippine Airlines and sister airline PAL Express as well as those of budget carriers Cebu Pacific, Cebgo, and AirAsia Zest met with the management of Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, and Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) on October 15 to assess the process of flight scheduling and how this can be improved to put an end to flight postponements.

In a statement, MIAA said participants at the meeting agreed to convene small group exploratory meetings that will look for ways to reform the scheduling of flights and management of air traffic flow.

At the same time, MIAA noted developments that augur well for the normalization of flight operations. One is the reactivation of Runway 31 last August that has allowed flight movements to take place simultaneously on both runways.

Another is the expected completion of the Taxiway extension in November, which will further decongest aircraft traffic at the intersection of the runways.

DOJ study recommendations

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice-Office for Competition (DOJ-OFC) in its latest report recommends that air carriers be more transparent with their procedures for rebooking and cancellation.

In the “Report on Airlines’ Cancellation and Refund Policy,” a follow-through study to the Advisory Opinion No. 1 on Airline Ticket Sales issued in February 2013, the OFC stated that air carriers should be obligated to inform consumers in a clear and concise manner which service charges or fees may be refunded in case of rebooking or cancellation.

It also called for the amendment of the Airline Passenger Bill of Rights to enhance protection for consumers and make air carriers more accountable for their safety.

“With refund and cancellation policies clearly laid out and communicated, airline passengers can be assured that their rights are protected,” recently resigned Secretary Leila De Lima said in a statement. De Lima is running for the Senate in elections next year.

The report also highlighted the major consumer protection issues in air travel, such as the lack of transparency, accessibility and clarity in air carriers’ contracts; implications of purchasing non-refundable, non-reroutable, or non-endorseable airline tickets which, if unused, are forfeited; the prevalence of delayed airline refunds due to unclear rules and procedures; and deduction of service fees on amounts refunded.

The OFC likewise proposed the creation of a Customer Service Plan by air carriers consistent with international best practices, and alignment of complaints-handling mechanisms in the airline industry with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines so that passengers could seek effective redress for service lapses.

CAB executive director Atty Carmelo Arcilla said, “The issue on cancellation and refunds is a perennial source of passenger complaints. Thus, we welcome OFC’s Report as we continue to work together towards regulatory reforms for the benefit of passengers.”

Consultation meetings had been held between OFC and CAB officials to ensure that regulatory issues and industry players’ perspectives were taken into consideration.

“Government policies must always be relevant to consumers in a basic way. Increase in air travel boosts the economy and for this reason, issues that are often swept under the rug such as airline ticket refunds should be immediately addressed so as not to cast a negative light on the country’s image as a preferred travel destination,” DOJ assistant secretary and head of OFC Geronimo Sy said.

Image courtesy of atibodyphoto at FreeDigitalPhotos.net