Airlines Forced to Cut Caticlan Frequencies

The Civil Aeronautics Board has followed through on previous warnings to Cebu Pacific and PAL Express that they would be asked to reduce flight frequencies to Caticlan following a highly unusual number of flight cancellations over the last four months.


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In the last four months, Cebu Pacific cancelled 128 flights to Caticlan, while PAL Express cancelled 112 flights. The airlines blamed everything from sunset limitations to maintenance requirements. Both Cebu Pacific and PAL Express will now be dropping an average of one flight per day from their current Manila-Caticlan schedules. Most of the cancellations will affect afternoon flights.

The Civil Aeronautics Board stated that while a greater frequency services the public interest, it does no such service if it comes at the inconvenience of frequently cancelling flights leaving passengers with no alternative recourse. The Civil Aeronautics Board permitted each airline to select which flight it wanted to drop from its schedule.
 
Cebu Pacific continues to be the market leader on the Manila to Caticlan route with a 46.1% market share as of the end of 2012 according to data provided by the Center for Asia Pacific Aviation. PAL Express trails behind at 21.6% market share.

Passengers should take time to educate themselves on the Air Passenger Bill of Rights as they may be entitled to compensation for cancelled flights and refreshments for flight delays.