CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Pampanga Representative Joseller "Yeng" Guiao has filed House Resolution 1081 directing the committee on transportation to conduct an inquiry into the policy of airlines and concerned agencies on flight cancellations and diversions.
Guiao said in the resolution that major airlines operating in and out of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have cancelled their flights on January 15 and January 19 to give way to the arrival and departure ceremonies of Pope Francis.
He further said that Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Tiger Air Philippines and Air Asia have released the list of their cancelled domestic and international flights, numbering close to 300, during the four-day period and have advised their customers to call their respective hotline numbers for rebooking and/or for refund.
“While these cancellations may be necessary, the tremendous inconvenience it will cause to many passengers could have been avoided had the airlines provided passengers with the option of having their flights diverted to and take off from Clark International Airport on the said dates. Diverting some of the flights to Clark will allow many passengers to make it to their important appointments and not miss opportunities, at the same time allowing the airlines to showcase their sincerity in looking after their passengers' welfare," Guiao stressed.
Although Clark is 1.5 hours drive from Metro Manila, he noted in the resolution, for many passengers, it certainly is a better alternative than the outright cancellation of their flights and the prospect of not arriving at their destinations on the scheduled date.
"Diverting flights to Clark will also remind everyone that we have another working international airport not too far from Metro Manila, ready to accommodate extra flights," Guiao said.
The Department of Transportation and Communication, through the Civil Aeronautics Board and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, should have exercised its oversight and regulatory powers to at least suggest to airlines to consider flight diversion versus outright cancellation in order not to severely inconvenience aviation consumers, Guiao added. (JTD)