House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez wants Philippine airlines to transfer their domestic flights to Clark International Airport (CRK) within 45 days to decongest Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), or face the possible cancellation of their legislative franchise by Congress.
Alvarez, in a Lower House Committee on Transportation hearing on February 15, also singled out Cebu Pacific, accusing the low-cost carrier of supposedly implementing cost-cutting practices that allow it to enjoy huge profits at the expense of the passengers.
Cebu Pacific president Lance Gokongwei was the only airline boss at the hearing.
Alvarez said that it is only in the Philippines where mixed use of terminals—airports designed for domestic traffic also handle international flights while airports designed for international flights also take in domestic flights—is allowed.
“Hindi pwede ngayon ‘yan. Kung ano yung tama yun ang gawin natin. So kung domestic ‘yan, domestic ‘yan. Ngayon kung kulang, so be it. Ilipat mo sa Clark yung ibang flights [That’s not allowed now. Let’s do what’s right. So if it’s for domestic use, use it for domestic only. If there’s not enough [capacity], then move some of the flights to Clark],” Alvarez said.
The House speaker has given Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Ed Monreal 45 days to implement the transfer of domestic flights to CRK, otherwise local airlines face possible cancellation of their legislative franchise.
“You know the reason why I also invited the chairman of the franchise committee? Because yung mga ayaw sumunod sa rules and regulations ng gobyerno we can always cancel your respective franchises. And we are not joking. We are not threatening anybody. We are serious in promoting the safety, comfort and convenience of the public,” Alvarez said.
Cebu Pacific’s Gokongwei said it might take at least a year for his company to comply with such directive.
“Respectfully sir, given the way we sell tickets one year in advance and also the time it requires to move all our people and (do) the ground preparations, I think these drastic steps may take over a year of planning,” Gokongwei said.
However, Alvarez stood firm on the 45-day deadline. He urged the transport committee to form an oversight body to evaluate what could be accomplished at the end of the deadline.
“Kasi kung hindi natin uumpisahan yan ngayon walang mangyayari. Pero kung gagawin natin kaya naman siguro [If we don’t start now, nothing will get accomplished. But if we do it, we can probably get it done],” Alvarez said.
He also lashed out at Cebu Pacific’s alleged refusal to use the passenger bridge—also known as the tube—even though it is available.
Gokongwei said it is not the airline’s policy to use the passenger bridge, but the House Speaker refused to accept the airline’s response. Likewise, Alvarez accused Cebu Pacific of failing to refund passengers who failed to board their flights, and reminded the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and MIAA not to allow such practice.
