|
Friday, August 08, 2003
PAL: Fix runway or we stop serving Cebu
CEBU -- Philippine Airlines (PAL) will be forced to stop operating in the Mactan-Cebu International Airport if the deteriorating runway gets worse, company officials warned Thursday.
In a press conference, PAL president Avelino Zapanta said it was more than two years ago when experts described the Mactan runway as being in a "sorry state."
Zapanta conceded that the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) cannot repair the runway now because the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 5 issued a temporary restraining order (TRO).
However, the situation in the Mactan airport is dangerous because the runway is so rough the aircraft tires may blow up, Zapanta said.
"PAL is part of Cebu's catalysts for development. But if the bad runway condition will worsen, it's better for PAL to stop operations until its full repair," Zapanta said.
PAL operates at least seven flights a day in Mactan, serving domestic and international routes, using A330 aircraft.
"We believe that Cebu's economic activities will be affected once PAL will stop operating in Mactan. So, our main demand is for the government authorities concerned to resolve the conflict between MCIAA and Echelon Industries Inc.," Zapanta said.
Tire changes
Echelon filed a civil case against MCIAA officials for not awarding the P44-million runway rejuvenation project, which it won in a bidding in March 2002.
RTC Branch 5 Judge Ireneo Lee Gako Jr. issued a TRO prohibiting MCIAA from continuing the project until its conflict with Echelon is resolved.
Capt. John Andrews, PAL vice president for flight operations, said the company's planes have reported 91 tire changes in seven months because of the rough runway.
Worse, Andrews said, is that loose stones could get sucked into the aircraft engine, causing potentially disastrous "foreign object damage."
"We don't mind who will conduct the repairs. Our concern is public safety," Andrews said.
Andrews said they were informed that MCIAA General Manager Angelo Verdan will issue a notice to airlines that the airport runway is in such a bad shape, temporary closure to air traffic is not farfetched.
In a separate interview, Echelon country manager Cris Saavedra said the company will agree to the lifting of the TRO provided Echelon will handle the runway rejuvenation project.
The next hearing of the case is on Monday, added Saavedra, who wondered aloud about the timing of PAL's press conference.
Saavedra said MCIAA recently requested the court to lift the injunction, at least for 40 percent of the project or some 20 hectares.
"We objected because there will be nothing for the court to decide if, while the case is pending, the MCIAA will also continue undertaking the project," Saavedra said. EOB of Sun.Star Cebu
(August 8, 2003 issue)
Want Sun.Star news on your mobile phone? Click here.
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
 |
| click
to comment on this article or discuss it with other readers |
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
