CAB Slaps P52M Fine Against Cebu Pacific for ‘Lapses’ on Christmas Holidays

The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) on Monday fined Cebu Pacific P52-million for operational lapses and a disproportionate number of delayed and canceled flights over the Christmas holidays, GMA News Online reported.

CAB Executive Director Carmelo Arcilla has said the board decided to fine the budget airline P52,110,000, adding that it was the largest fine imposed ever on an airline in the Philippines.

The resolution, according to said, would be issued Tuesday.

Arcilla said the unprecedented amount was based on a formula and the provisions of Republic Act 776 or the Civil Aeronautics Act of the Philippines, report said. He said CAB also considered the large number of affected flights and people when it computed the fine.

Report said CAB director Jose Victor Luciano said a P5,000 fine was imposed for every affected passenger. There were over 10,000 passengers affected.

Data submitted to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) showed that Cebu Pacific had 20 canceled flights and 288 delayed flights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 from Dec. 24 to Dec. 26, report said.

Earlier, Cebu Pacific said the widespread cancellations was due to air traffic congestion, weather conditions, and sudden absence from work of ground crews.

Arcilla said that out of the 14 check in counters for Cebu Pacific’s domestic flights, there were only two that were working on Dec. 26, 2014, adding that supervisors of the airline were not around to address the complaints of passengers.

Moreover, an airline executive said the company has yet to receive official communication from CAB.

“Until then, we cannot give any comment,” Cebu Pacific vice president for corporate affairs Jorenz Tañada said over GMA News Online report.

Source: GMA News Online