MANILA, (PNA) –The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) on Thursday ordered for an investigation on Cebu Pacific Air (CEB) for non-compliance of the trip limit within 30 hours while the airport’s radar systems are under preventive maintenance works.
CAAP Deputy Director General John Andrews said there were reports that reached them that CEB apparently ignored the 40 percent cut in the number of trips scheduled between 12:01 a.m. of Oct. 23 until 6 a.m. of Oct. 24 which is tantamount to unfair trade practice since other airlines complied.
Also, CEB’s act created confusion among passengers.
“Mayroon kaming balita na natangaap na nagkagulo ng kaunti kahapon (Wednesday), mga delays dumami kasi may isang airline hindi nag-comply… Hindi sila nag-comply sa 40 percent reduction,” Andrews said.
He added: “Ang pinasok nilang flights mas marami kaya nagkagulo tayo kahapon”.
CEB apparently made a bloated flight plan or added non-existent flights to its flights list and submitted it to CAAP to make it appear that they have cancelled at least 40 percent of the flights when in actuality the same number of flights on a regular day remains the same.
CAAP will impose penalties on CEB once it is found guilty.
CAAP issued a Notice to Airman (NOTAM) which limits domestic flight to 11 departures and 11 arrivals per hour due to the radar systems preventive maintenance works at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
As a result, more than 100 domestic flights were cancelled.