PAL slashes local trips by 30%, int'l flights by 12%

A week before it spins off its non-core businesses on Oct. 1, flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) said on Saturday that it will temporarily reduce the number of selected domestic flights by 30 percent and international flights by 12 percent. “PAL is adopting contingency measures during the transition period to shield its customers from unnecessary inconvenience and hassles," PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said. “We’re not taking any chances. These measures will help alleviate the inevitable minor kinks in PAL’s service as we go though this difficult but necessary transition period," Villaluna added. She sought the understanding of the flying public for the temporary arrangement and thanked the Manila International Airport Authority, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, other government agencies and PAL’s corps of volunteers for their support. In a statement posted on PAL's website Saturday night, the PAL spokesperson said the affected domestic routes include: - Cebu - Davao - Bacolod - Iloilo - Butuan - Cotabato - Cagayan de Oro - Dipolog - Kalibo - Laoag - Legazpi - Tacloban - Tagbilaran - Zamboanga. The 11 international points to be affected by the flight frequency reduction are: - Hong Kong - Bangkok - New Delhi - Macau - Singapore - Los Angeles - Vancouver - Guam - Sydney - Melbourne - Incheon (from Cebu). Cancelled and updated flights Apart from informing affected passengers, PAL has posted a complete and updated list of PAL flights. The list of cancelled flights can be accessed on the PAL website. PAL cancelled 13 international flights and 22 domestic flights. All other PAL flights remain as scheduled. Contingency plans Villaluna assured the public that only select PAL flights will be suspended for a few days, and would resume on varying dates in October and November as operations normalize after the spinoff/outsourcing. She said all other PAL flights remain operational although on other available schedules. PAL may also merge some flights using bigger aircraft. Villaluna said the flight suspension on selected routes seeks to prevent sudden, unplanned cancellations and avoid passenger inconvenience. She said it would be easier for the flag carrier and its service providers to handle reduced number of flights as they adjust and transfer the functions of its three non-core units. Villaluna said Malacañang, the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Transportation and Communication, Manila International Airport Authority, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and Philippine National Police have been informed of the airline’s temporary flight reduction and other contingency measures. Temporary counters, waived penalties PAL said it will set up temporary cashier counters at convenient locations for ticket refunds and other transactions. All penalties will be waived. The airline will also set up remote city check-in counters near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Passengers checking in at these remote counters shall be issued boarding passes and then shuttled to NAIA Terminal 2 on airconditioned buses. Priority will be given to those without check-in luggage. For other inquiries passengers may also call PAL reservations at 855-8888 or their travel agents. — ELR, GMA News