CAAP: Airlines Willing to Comply with 45 Minute Turn Around
After initial consultations with low cost airlines in the Philippines, the Civil Aviation Authority is reporting that the airlines have expressed a willingness to comply with a proposal that would see the minimum turnaround time for domestic flights in the Philippines increased to 45 minutes. The proposed directive is designed to enhance safety.
On Wednesday, July 17, the Vice Presidents of Flight Operations representing various Philippine carriers met with officials from the Civil Aviation Authority to discuss the planned industry-wide increase. In a telephone interview with Rappler, Deputy Director General John Andrews stated that the consensus of the airline representatives was "in the affirmative." Andrews stated that the issue was discussed thoroughly and that based on the results of the Questions & Answers, the airlines are willing to comply.
The Civil Aviation Authority called for an increase in turnaround times after releasing its official report on the findings of an incident involving a Cebu Pacific aircraft in early June that veered off the runway in Davao. As part of the corrective action plan for Cebu Pacific, CAAP has mandated the airline to increase its turnaround times by twenty minutes in an effort to increase safety by allowing pilots more time to prepare for flight. Cebu Pacific will be required to increase its turnaround times to a minimum of 45 minutes on July 31. But Andrews, a former Cebu Pacific and PAL pilot, doesn't believe that the requirement should rest solely with Cebu Pacific but should be implemented industry wide.
Andrews said that after meeting with flight operations representatives and discussing the proposal, the group agreed that safety should be the priority. However, he will have to wait for the official feedback provided in writing before moving further.
If the proposal moves ahead, an industry wide increase to 45 minute turnarounds would be implemented by October 1 following the submission of the winter flight schedules.
Low cost carriers currently employ a global industry standard of 25 minute turnaround times permitting the carriers to maximize utilization of the aircraft improving cost efficiency resulting in lower fares to passengers. The practice is globally accepted in North America and Europe where low cost carriers have yet to be called into account by regulators over safety concerns. If implemented, the Philippines would be the first country in the world to mandate such a policy.
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| Copyright Photo: Kit Stephen Agad/PPSG |
The Civil Aviation Authority called for an increase in turnaround times after releasing its official report on the findings of an incident involving a Cebu Pacific aircraft in early June that veered off the runway in Davao. As part of the corrective action plan for Cebu Pacific, CAAP has mandated the airline to increase its turnaround times by twenty minutes in an effort to increase safety by allowing pilots more time to prepare for flight. Cebu Pacific will be required to increase its turnaround times to a minimum of 45 minutes on July 31. But Andrews, a former Cebu Pacific and PAL pilot, doesn't believe that the requirement should rest solely with Cebu Pacific but should be implemented industry wide.
Andrews said that after meeting with flight operations representatives and discussing the proposal, the group agreed that safety should be the priority. However, he will have to wait for the official feedback provided in writing before moving further.
If the proposal moves ahead, an industry wide increase to 45 minute turnarounds would be implemented by October 1 following the submission of the winter flight schedules.
Low cost carriers currently employ a global industry standard of 25 minute turnaround times permitting the carriers to maximize utilization of the aircraft improving cost efficiency resulting in lower fares to passengers. The practice is globally accepted in North America and Europe where low cost carriers have yet to be called into account by regulators over safety concerns. If implemented, the Philippines would be the first country in the world to mandate such a policy.
Maan Hontiveros, CEO of AirAsia Philippines, believes that the airline can fly safely and still achieve its turnaround time of 25 minutes just like the airline's counterparts in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand. However, she was quick to point out that safety is never compromised in favour of on-time performance noting that if an aircraft must remain on the ground for necessary checks, it will remain as long as it needs to. "We are willing to listen to CAAP and know what their recommendations are," Hontiveros said.
While pilots have voiced support for the initiative, the industry consensus is that extending the turnaround time of low cost carriers would inevitably add costs to the airlines which will likely be absorbed by passengers in the form of higher fares. While Andrews disagrees with this claim citing that market forces are solely what dictate airfares, the question must be raised if the conservative position followed by the Civil Aviation Authority might be an over reaction to the sensitive climate under which the regulator is currently operating facing close scrutiny by regulators in Europe and the United States over the pending lifting of bans.
While there is no doubt that such a policy could enhance safety by providing more time for pilots to make necessary preparations and checks, there is also the perspective that the Philippine regulator is not taking any chances with the pending lifting of the safety bans on the horizon. It does seem unusual that the Philippine regulator would move to implement safety standards that exceed the existing global standards and high standards of their foreign counterparts without an underlying agenda. If the proposal does move forward, passengers should brace for higher airfares as these will be increased costs that the airlines are not willing to absorb.
While pilots have voiced support for the initiative, the industry consensus is that extending the turnaround time of low cost carriers would inevitably add costs to the airlines which will likely be absorbed by passengers in the form of higher fares. While Andrews disagrees with this claim citing that market forces are solely what dictate airfares, the question must be raised if the conservative position followed by the Civil Aviation Authority might be an over reaction to the sensitive climate under which the regulator is currently operating facing close scrutiny by regulators in Europe and the United States over the pending lifting of bans.
While there is no doubt that such a policy could enhance safety by providing more time for pilots to make necessary preparations and checks, there is also the perspective that the Philippine regulator is not taking any chances with the pending lifting of the safety bans on the horizon. It does seem unusual that the Philippine regulator would move to implement safety standards that exceed the existing global standards and high standards of their foreign counterparts without an underlying agenda. If the proposal does move forward, passengers should brace for higher airfares as these will be increased costs that the airlines are not willing to absorb.
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