CAB refining rules for chronic flight delays

MANILA, Philippines — The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) is close to finalizing the rules in determining whether local airlines are operating routes with chronic delays, which could result in monetary fines for tardy carriers.

CAB executive director Carmelo Arcilla said the guidelines are currently being fine-tuned with the hope of issuing it by November.

“The guidelines we will release it maybe next month. We are still refining,” he said.

“Not just because one flight is delayed then there will be a penalty already. What we’re looking for is the overall performance for a significant period of time. There is a pecuniary penalty depending on the scale,” Arcilla said.

Aside from monetary penalties, Arcilla said the air transport regulator might also require that a particular flight be curtailed if found having chronic delays.

“If it is causing so much inconvenience there’s no reason for you to continue it,” the CAB official said.

“On a daily basis, for example, an airline’s last flight is always cancelled or always delayed so maybe there comes a point in time that you have to remove that flight because it is causing inconvenience with the public. So it boils down to faulty planning, that is the basis of action for CAB,” he said.

The release of the guidelines is expected to bolster government’s efforts in improving passenger service and addressing flight delays.

Last July, CAB ordered all local carriers to submit a monthly on-time performance (OTP) report which must contain the average of all daily flights per airport of origin.

The OTPs should be determined by recording the time of departure and arrival.

The CAB said if the actual departure or arrival time is up to 15 minutes past the original schedule, then flight is considered on time.

Cebu Pacific was earlier investigated by the CAB after cancelling a total of 172 one-way domestic flights from April 28 to May 10, which is equivalent to about 14 flights a day, out of its more or less 400 daily domestic flights.