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Advocates Philippines
Senator Tulfo Calls Out Abuses By Airlines In Senate Hearing
Senate Public Hearing of the Committee on Tourism joint with Public Services: P.S. Res. No. 575 - Airline Passengers' Complaints Against Cebu Pacific For Overbooking, Offloading and Booking Glitches. Photo courtesy of Sen. Nancy Binay
In a bid to address mounting complaints from passengers regarding the services provided by airline companies, the Senate Committee on Tourism, led by Sen. Nancy Binay, conducted a public hearing on Wednesday. The hearing shed light on the challenges faced by the country's tourism industry due to persistent issues and mismanagement hiccups in air transportation, particularly focusing on Cebu Pacific and other airlines.
Sen. Binay, in her opening statement, underscored the significant role of airline businesses in revitalizing Philippine tourism. However, she lamented that power outages in airports, along with grievances of overbooking, offloading, and booking glitches against Cebu Pacific and other airlines, continue to hinder efforts to promote tourism effectively.
Binay urged airline companies and relevant government agencies to identify the root causes of these issues and swiftly implement practical solutions. She emphasized that passengers should not always bear the burden of adjustment, and it is high time for airlines to prioritize their customers' well-being.
Senator Raffy Tulfo meanwhile exposed further abuses by airline companies that compromise passenger safety. Tulfo highlighted issues such as overloading, overbooking, flight cancellations, and poor aircraft maintenance. He raised concerns about airlines cutting corners on safety measures and the resulting fatigue of pilots and flight attendants due to the industry's efforts to recover from pandemic-induced revenue losses.
Echoing the sentiment, Sen. Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito recounted his own unfortunate experience with an unscheduled delay caused by a local airline. During the joint public hearing of the Committees on Tourism and Public Services, Ejercito called for a comprehensive investigation into the continuous air travel issues faced by Cebu Pacific and other airlines. These issues include overbooking, offloading, poor aircraft maintenance, and airport mismanagement.
Ejercito emphasized the need to maximize the utilization of Clark International Airport as a means to alleviate congestion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, thereby improving the overall travel experience for passengers.
Furthermore, Sen. Christopher Lawrence "Bong" T. Go urged Cebu Pacific to take immediate action and address the mounting complaints from passengers. Go emphasized the importance of effective mechanisms for compensating and assisting affected passengers, including provisions for food, water, accommodation, and prompt reimbursement for any expenses incurred due to inconveniences caused by the airline.
Go also called for a comprehensive staff retraining program at Cebu Pacific to enhance customer service and minimize similar situations in the future.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros, the Senate Deputy Minority Leader, insisted that the responsibility for canceled, rescheduled, and delayed flights lies not only with the airlines but also with the concerned government agencies. She stressed that agencies such as the Civil Aeronautics Board and the Department of Transportation should be held accountable for their supervision, control, and regulation of air carriers.
Hontiveros highlighted the far-reaching impact of flight cancellations and delays, including wasted hotel reservations, missed business opportunities, and increased stress for passengers.
Supporting Hontiveros' stance, Sen. Grace Poe pointed out that the Department of Transportation should share part of the blame for the mounting complaints against Cebu Pacific. She emphasized the need to scrutinize airport policies and their potential contribution to the problem.
Meanwhile, in a tweet,DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian expressed his own frustrations with Cebu Pacific and empathized with the sentiments raised during the senate hearing.
As the public hearing unfolds, it becomes evident that immediate action is required from both airline companies and government agencies to rectify the persisting issues in air travel. The future of Philippine tourism relies on the ability to provide a seamless and satisfactory travel experience to visitors, ensuring that the country remains an attractive destination for both tourists and investors alike.
Sen. Binay, in her opening statement, underscored the significant role of airline businesses in revitalizing Philippine tourism. However, she lamented that power outages in airports, along with grievances of overbooking, offloading, and booking glitches against Cebu Pacific and other airlines, continue to hinder efforts to promote tourism effectively.
Binay urged airline companies and relevant government agencies to identify the root causes of these issues and swiftly implement practical solutions. She emphasized that passengers should not always bear the burden of adjustment, and it is high time for airlines to prioritize their customers' well-being.
Senator Raffy Tulfo meanwhile exposed further abuses by airline companies that compromise passenger safety. Tulfo highlighted issues such as overloading, overbooking, flight cancellations, and poor aircraft maintenance. He raised concerns about airlines cutting corners on safety measures and the resulting fatigue of pilots and flight attendants due to the industry's efforts to recover from pandemic-induced revenue losses.
Echoing the sentiment, Sen. Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito recounted his own unfortunate experience with an unscheduled delay caused by a local airline. During the joint public hearing of the Committees on Tourism and Public Services, Ejercito called for a comprehensive investigation into the continuous air travel issues faced by Cebu Pacific and other airlines. These issues include overbooking, offloading, poor aircraft maintenance, and airport mismanagement.
Ejercito emphasized the need to maximize the utilization of Clark International Airport as a means to alleviate congestion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, thereby improving the overall travel experience for passengers.
Furthermore, Sen. Christopher Lawrence "Bong" T. Go urged Cebu Pacific to take immediate action and address the mounting complaints from passengers. Go emphasized the importance of effective mechanisms for compensating and assisting affected passengers, including provisions for food, water, accommodation, and prompt reimbursement for any expenses incurred due to inconveniences caused by the airline.
Go also called for a comprehensive staff retraining program at Cebu Pacific to enhance customer service and minimize similar situations in the future.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros, the Senate Deputy Minority Leader, insisted that the responsibility for canceled, rescheduled, and delayed flights lies not only with the airlines but also with the concerned government agencies. She stressed that agencies such as the Civil Aeronautics Board and the Department of Transportation should be held accountable for their supervision, control, and regulation of air carriers.
Hontiveros highlighted the far-reaching impact of flight cancellations and delays, including wasted hotel reservations, missed business opportunities, and increased stress for passengers.
Supporting Hontiveros' stance, Sen. Grace Poe pointed out that the Department of Transportation should share part of the blame for the mounting complaints against Cebu Pacific. She emphasized the need to scrutinize airport policies and their potential contribution to the problem.
Meanwhile, in a tweet,DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian expressed his own frustrations with Cebu Pacific and empathized with the sentiments raised during the senate hearing.
As the public hearing unfolds, it becomes evident that immediate action is required from both airline companies and government agencies to rectify the persisting issues in air travel. The future of Philippine tourism relies on the ability to provide a seamless and satisfactory travel experience to visitors, ensuring that the country remains an attractive destination for both tourists and investors alike.
Jun 21, 2023
