MANILA -- House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. expressed his dissatisfaction with the public apology of Cebu Pacific Air for the delays and cancellations of its flights during the holidays last December.
Belmonte said the budget carrier's apology is not enough to compensate all passengers who were affected by the airline's poor management that resulted in the cancellation of 20 flights and delay of 288 flights.
"The problem should not stop with a simple apology," said Belmonte, adding Cebu Pacific should give the public a concrete assurance that the problems would never happen again.
Cavite Representative Elpidio Barzaga Jr. said a simple apology would not be enough for the 10,400 passengers angered by the hitches.
"Aside from reimbursing these 10,400 passengers, Cebu Pacific should give something more such as additional free airfare to assuage the feelings of its passengers and also to show to the public its utmost good faith," Barzaga said.
The lawmaker said Cebu Pacific "miserably failed to comply with its contractual obligations to 10,400 passengers."
Bayan Muna party-list Representative Neri Colmenares said that the offer of Cebu Pacific for refunds was not enough to compensate its customers for its several flight delays and dismal service.
Isabela Representative Rodolfo Albano III said the Cebu Pacific management should compensate for the loss time and opportunities of the passengers.
Albano also said that the airline company should find ways to correct the problem and avoid its recurrence.
On Wednesday, Cebu Pacific CEO Lance Gokongwei admitted that the holiday incident was caused by lack of personnel to manage the check-in counters at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. [READ: Cebu Pacific CEO apologizes for flight delays, cancellations]
The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) has already slapped Cebu Pacific with a P52-million fine after finding the airline liable for "operational lapses and mishandling of passengers" during the holidays.
It also required the airline to establish and maintain appropriate service standards for all its personnel, organic and outsourced, especially those manning the check-in counters. (Sunnex)