Cebu Pacific shouldn’t take all the blame

[ad_1]

A deluge of complaints against major low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific Airways (CEB), involving flight cancellations and overbookings, prompted the Senate to launch an investigation last week.

At the joint hearing of the Senate Tourism and Utilities Committees on Wednesday, Cebu Pacific raised the issue of sourcing aircraft spare parts. There is a global problem affecting the airline industry with over 120 Pratt and Whitney powered Airbus planes in the world. While CEB provided double the level of recommended spare motors as early as last year, we were informed in March 2023 that we will no longer receive the spare motor support that Pratt and Whitney had previously indicated. he declares.

The carrier said it sought to adjust flight times to minimize the impact just after receiving advice, but a number of flights, which were scheduled and sold out months in advance, inevitably had to be cut.

Deputy Minority Leader Senator Risa Hontiveros urged carriers to be more responsible in handling the current global shortage of aircraft spares. Don’t overbook in the midst of a supply chain problem, she said.

The senators acknowledged the impact of supply chain disruptions on flight schedules, but pointed out that many other issues plaguing the local airline industry and aviation regulators have not been resolved long ago. (Read, Senators tell regulators, carriers: Fix systemic issues beyond aftermarket crisis, in BusinessMirror, June 22, 2023).

Sen. Grace Poe, head of the Public Utilities Committee, said relevant government agencies, including the Department of Transportation, should take part in the blame amid growing complaints of overbooking and offloading against CEB.

Noting that passenger complaints are not limited to Cebu Pacific, Poe said airlines should not bear the brunt of passenger complaints alone. The airport and DOTr policies should also be reviewed to see if they are also part of the problem.

Besides fleet issues, Cebu Pacific noted that with the onset of the rainy season, there has been a much higher occurrence of red lightning alerts. This necessitates the suspension of all air and ground activities at the airport. From April to June alone, 78 red flash alerts were triggered, some lasting more than two hours.

CEB President and Chief Commercial Officer Alexander G. Lao listed other causes for flight cancellations: ground damage caused by runway debris, damage caused by unexpected severe weather, bird strikes, damage to the aircraft caused by a tire burst on landing, damage caused by a towing incident by carriers under maintenance contract. service provider and red lightning alerts. These issues, along with global supply chain issues, have led to the sudden and abrupt grounding of up to 17% of our fleet since April. )

Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Representative Rufus Rodriguez on Wednesday urged Congress to suspend Cebu Pacific’s legislative franchise as punishment for its disservice. Even if it were true that there is a global shortage of spare parts and a maintenance problem, he said, that is their own watch. The public should not suffer from their inefficiency.

Given the airline industry’s valuable contribution to the economy in its role as the backbone of the tourism industry, it would be good if our lawmakers weren’t too quick on the draw. Impulsive proposals, such as franchise suspension, will hurt our economic recovery. Despite all its shortcomings, the CEB plays a leading role in the growth of the country by offering efficient business travel as well as economical tourist travel.

Travel and transport are essential to the development of the country. The success of our airline industry is tied to the health and well-being of the country. But as the Senate hearings have shown, we also need strong regulators, appropriate airports, electricity and related infrastructure. All of this is necessary for Philippine tourism to develop to its full potential. It is useful to remember that tourism creates jobs and fuels local growth that generates prosperity.

Cebu Pacific carried nearly 13.5 million domestic passengers in 2022. Combined with its international operations, the carrier carried over 14.8 million passengers last year. Not all of these passengers are dissatisfied airline customers. If Congress suspends the Cebu Pacifics franchise, millions of Filipino travelers will face higher fares, making it harder to travel. This can have a negative impact on our tourism industry.

[ad_2]