United Filipino Consumers and Commuters (UFCC) President Rodolfo Javellana Jr. has urged Cagayan de Oro Congressman Rufus Rodriguez to “widen his perspective” on the current challenges affecting the entire local airline industry rather than focusing solely on Cebu Pacific’s passenger woes.
In an open letter posted by UFCC on social media, Javellana said his group appreciates Rodriguez’s steadfast advocacy for better airline services, especially Cebu Pacific, which is the subject of Rodriguez’s resolution in the House of Representatives.
However, Javellana urged Rodriguez to consider other airline companies in his series of criticism since the issues of delays and flight cancellations are similarly experienced by passengers with other airline companies and the issue is not exclusive to Cebu Pacific alone.
The UFCC appealed to Rodriguez to also look into the complaints of passengers of Air Asia regarding refunds on cancelled flights that remain unpaid, for some passengers, even after three years of persistent follow-ups.
Rep. Rodriguez, Cebu Pacific, and Air Asia have yet to react to the group’s statement as of posting time.
UFCC also expressed its dismay with Air Asia for violating the rights of its passengers, who for lack of support from the authorities have resorted to social media to amplify their call for Air Asia to honor their refunds.
UFCC said it is “plainly unjust” for Air Asia to ignore the plea of its passengers, considering that most passengers who have been asking for refunds are people who have suffered from the economic impact of the pandemic.
UFCC asked Rodriguez to objectively and logically look at the deeper causes of flight cancellations and delays the same way OFW Party-List Congresswoman Marissa Magsino did when she filed a resolution seeking to address the issues that affect the whole aviation industry.
Magsino, in previous statements, said that delays and cancellation of flights in both international and local flights are largely caused by congestions in the airports, hence her call is for the government to improve the facilities rather than blame an airline company for the woes of the passengers.
These observations are shared by the United Filipino Global (UFG) president Gemma Sotto, who categorically stated that based on the experiences of overseas Filipino workers, flight delays and cancellations are common in both international and local flights regardless of which airline is preferred.
UFCC also said that perception being circulated in social media of complaints regarding damages to baggages that are being thrown to Cebu Pacific should also be investigated since baggage handling is the duty and responsibility of airport management and not the airline company.
With the aviation industry around the world bracing for the so-called “revenge travel” or the massive influx of travelers after the lifting of travel ban due to COVID-19 pandemic, the UFCC believes that it is timely and relevant for the government policy makers to look for a comprehensive solution to the present challenges that affect the airlines’ services to the passengers.