Cebu Pacific Air (5J, Manila Ninoy Aquino International) says it will dispute a PHP52 million (USD1.17 million) fine levied against it by the Civil Aeronautics Board of the Philippines (CAB) for a series of flight delays and cancellations experienced during the Christmas holidays.
According to local media reports, the CAB said the fine was based on the 10,400 passengers that were affected by Cebu's total of 20 cancelled flights and 288 delayed flights at Manila Ninoy Aquino International Terminal 3 during the period December 23 to 26 of last year.
“Cebu Pacific clung to its arguments that, while it committed lapses in the handling of passengers, the main contributory factor to the disruption was air traffic congestion and terminal infrastructure deficiencies," CAB Executive Director, Carmelo L. Arcilla, said. "After considering all available data and arguments, the board concluded that the main culprit was Cebu Pacific’s operational lapses and mishandling of passengers.”
As such, for violating the Republic Act 776, otherwise known as the Civil Aeronautics Act of the Philippines, a CAB-lead inquest imposed a penalty of PHP5,000 for each passenger inconvenienced, on the carrier.
However, Cebu Pacific vice president for corporate affairs, Jorenz Tañada, said the carrier would seek "clarification" on the basis of the fine stating instead that the delays were caused by bad weather and airport congestion.
"We have received CAB Resolution No. 4, and we are currently in the process of reviewing the document, and its attendant legal ramifications," the carrier said in a statement. "We note that there may be some matters of fact requiring clarification, and are evaluating all our options accordingly."
