Skyjet Airlines (M8, Manila Ninoy Aquino International) has successfully secured a court ruling allowing it to temporarily resume scheduled operations to Basco, Busuanga, and Caticlan as of Sunday, May 24. Last week, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) unilaterally suspended the Air Operators Certificates (AOC) of both Skyjet Air and SEAir International (XO, Angeles City Clark International) citing safety concerns highlighted by a European Union delegation during a recent audit of the country's airline industry.
However, Skyjet took the matter to court arguing that the CAAP had not followed due process as it had neither carried out its own proper investigation of the airline's operations nor had it given it the chance to rectify the alleged safety oversights.
As such, a Manila district court issued a 20-day temporary restraining order against the CAAP claiming the move to suspend its AOC was "premature and done without investigation and without inspection of the airplane of the plaintiff." The court went on state that the suspension had violated the constitutional and economic rights of Skyjet.
The InterAksyon news site says Skyjet will be allowed to continue operations while the hearings for the main case, a petition for preliminary injunction, are ongoing.
Skyjet is also seeking PHP20 million (USD448,000) from the CAAP for damage incurred to its reputation as well as lost business.
