Budget airliner Cebu Pacific said passengers at Clark International Airport in Pampanga could experience more flight delays after ground operations were suspended due to a lightning alert issued on Wednesday afternoon.

In an advisory, Cebu Pacific said authorities had raised a lightning and thunderstorm alert covering Clark International Airport at 3:34 p.m.

“During this time, airport ground operations were suspended for safety reasons. We cannot board or unload passengers and baggage,” the airliner said in its Twitter post.

In another advisory released at 4:50 p.m., Cebu Pacific said the alert lasted for one hour and six minutes.

“As an effect of the 1hr 6min closure of the CRK airport due to thunderstorms and lightning, we regret that there will be delayed flights,” it said.

“We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused,” it added.

MANILA, Philippines – The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) will not fine Cebu Pacific over its series of flight cancellations from April 28 to May 10, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said on Wednesday.

READ: Cebu Pacific cancels more flights until May 10

The DOTr explained that no fines will be imposed after CAB found that the concerns of passengers affected by the flight cancellations have been handled properly.

“Affected passengers’ concerns were found to be handled properly by Cebu Pacific in compliance with the Air Passenger Bill of Rights. Thus, the imposition of penalties was not considered at present,” the DOTr said in a statement.

Instead, the CAB directed Cebu Pacific to submit within 30 days a concrete plan stating measures it will take to prevent further inconvenience to passengers.

“We are hoping that Cebu Pacific will immediately comply with the order to resolve this issue. Hindi na natin maibabalik pa ‘yung dinulot na inconvenience these cancellations have caused. But moving forward, we aim to have more substantial actions so that our passengers will not have to suffer,” DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade said.

The air transport regulator also recommended that a stern warning be given to Cebu Pacific to exercise diligence necessary in maintaining stability and reliability of air transport service to the riding public.

The DOTr said that during its hearings held on May 2 and May 6, Cebu Pacific said that it was forced to cancel hundreds of its flights due to ongoing efforts to improve on-time performance (OTP) as its aircraft takes 49 to 66 minutes before being able to take off.

READ: CAB looks into Cebu Pacific flight cancellations

The flight cancellations will “create space” in their flight and crew inventory, “make way for operational recovery,” and “minimize rolling delays,” the Cebu Pacific noted.

CAB also found that the airliner had a “crewing problem,” as it concluded that “the additional time spent by the on-duty crew on the tarmac consumes the working hours and reserves that were supposed to be utilized at a much later schedule.”

While the CAB understands the cancellations as a recuperative measure for the airline, it pointed out that it cannot be made at the expense of the riding public.

“We want to remind airlines to consider the welfare of its passengers by avoiding short notice. The people have paid for these flights and have made their schedules accordingly,” CAB Executive Director Carmelo Arcilla said.

“While we understand the corrective measures being made to improve OTP, maximum effort should be done so that these measures are not at the expense of our passengers,” he added.

For the DOTr’s part, Secretary Tugade has directed the daily publication of airline OTP in major airports nationwide.

The DOTr noted Cebu Pacific’s OTP was pushed to an average of 51.16%, with lows of around 30% in March due to the hour-long stay on the tarmac. (with details from Joan Nano)

MANILA, Philippines – The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) said on Monday it is currently looking into Cebu Pacific’s cancellation of more than 40 flights since Sunday (April 28).

CAB executive director Atty. Carmelo Arcilla said they are probing the factors and circumstances that led to the cancellations.

“We are now in the process of evaluating the incident and determine the circumstances that led to this,” Arcilla said.

Cebu Pacific earlier announced in an advisory that dozens of their flights have been canceled from April 28 to 30 because of limited operational conditions, particularly in their Manila hub in Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

READ: Several flights in Cebu Pacific cancelled

Cebu Pacific spokesperson Charo Logarta-Lagamon told UNTV News and Rescue in an interview that they are facing operational limitations due to different factors, including several damaged aircraft and heavy traffic that prevented flights from taking off and landing on time.

Lagamon added that three of their aircraft were damaged due to bird strikes.

The temporary reduction of flights, she said, is necessary to minimize the disruption and to restore the network route to its normal state.

“Yung ruta na tinatahak ng bawat eroplano and because it affects yung nga ruta yung nga timing yung nga schedule nabubulunan ang aming network,” she said.

“Wala kaming ibang choice, masakit man sa aming kalooban we have to pulldown those flights para hindi na lumaki pa at lumala pa yung problema ng malawakang mga delay at cancellations,” she added.

At least 9,000 passengers are affected by flight cancellations based on Cebu Pacific’s estimate.

The airline management has apologized for the inconvenience caused by the cancellations, and assured it is extending “every possible help” to passengers.

Affected travelers may rebook flights within 30 days from the original flight schedule, free of charge; get a full refund or place the full cost of the ticket in a travel fund.

Passengers may also re-route to and from alternate airports for travel within 30 days, subject to availability of seats.

Meanwhile, aside from Cebu Pacific, the CAB is also monitoring other airlines that also sought permission to cancel flights. These include Skyjet, Philippine Airlines, and Air Asia. – Robie de Guzman (with reports from Joan Nano)