We are sorry, the requested page does not exist
5 killed in collision between Japan Airlines, Coast Guard planes
TOKYO— A passenger plane and a Japanese coast guard aircraft collided on the runway at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, and burst into flames. Transport Minister Tetsuo Saito confirmed that all 379 occupants of Japan Airlines flight JAL-516 got out safely before the plane was entirely engulfed in flames. The pilot of.....»»
AirAsia Phl all set for long Undas weekend
AirAsia Philippines on Friday, 27 October, assured all its guests flying to various provinces for the observance of All Souls' Day and All Saints' Day of a smooth and on-time customer journey at NAIA Terminal 2. AirAsia Philippines CEO Ricky Isla and Manila International Airport Authority OIC Bryan Co, along with other airport officials, conducted an inspection of AirAsia check-in counters, kiosks, and boarding gates at NAIA Terminal 2 to demonstrate the airline's readiness for Undas and the long weekend. The airline expects to operate more than 700 domestic flights and carry more than 90,000 guests from 27 October to 1 November. This is 8 percent higher than the figures for the same period in 2022, with all domestic destinations averaging 90 to 93 percent passenger load. In order to effectively handle the influx of guests, four customer happiness counters in addition to the 20 check-in stations were activated. In addition, four self-check-in kiosks are provided to make contactless check-in easier, particularly for passengers who aren't checking bags. "We would like to guarantee our guests a smooth journey this holiday as they travel to their provinces and fly back to Manila. We have activated all and even augmented our ground operations staff to man the check-in counters without breaks. This exercise will also support MIAA's positive on-time performance," Isla said. AirAsia Philippines is closing the month of October with a positive 90 percent on-time performance. "With the commitment of our airline and industry partners, we aim to maintain our strong OTP record from the long weekend rush this year. Our objective is to minimize crowding in passenger and aircraft movement areas through the timely dispatch of flights. We're striving to establish this as a norm at NAIA. Thanks to our partnerships with airlines and government agencies, passengers are starting to notice a positive shift in NAIA operations," shared Co. To avoid being stuck in the traffic rush, AirAsia Philippines is encouraging all its guests to allot extra travel time, at least three to four hours before their flight schedule. Guests are also advised to regularly check their mobile and email accounts or visit the AirAsia Superapp, the AirAsia website (www.airasia.com), and AirAsia social media channels for the latest travel advisories. The post AirAsia Phl all set for long Undas weekend appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BI says ready for Undas travel influx
The Bureau of Immigration said it will have sufficient manpower at airports to handle the increase in travelers during the All Souls' Day and All Saints' Day break. BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said that BI personnel deployed in all major international airports remain sufficient to cater to the needs of the travelling public. As previously practiced, officers are disallowed from going on vacation leaves during the peak season. Apart from the new immigration officers, augmentation teams have been assigned and mobile counters are ready for deployment as needed, said the BI chief. The BI is forecasting 4 million arrivals for the entire 2023 fourth quarter. From October to December, the BI also anticipates 3.8 million departures -- numbers that are close to pre-pandemic figures. “We have implemented numerous changes in our systems to cater to the resumption of international travel after the pandemic,” said Tangsingco. Prior to the pandemic, passenger volume at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport increased by an average of 6 to 10 percent. Tansingco reminded the public to arrive at the airports at least three hours prior to their flight and proceed directly to the immigration area for clearance after check-in. All BI officers in all airports are likewise placed on heightened alert. “I have ordered all terminal heads to conduct close monitoring of our operations in the coming weeks to ensure smooth processing,” said Tansingco. The post BI says ready for Undas travel influx appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Immigration officer convicted
The National Bureau of Investigation yesterday revealed that a Bureau of Immigration officer has been convicted for the falsification of travel records showing that former Wirecard chief operating officer Jan Marsalek was in the Philippines even if he did not arrive and leave the country in 2020. The NBI said BI officer Marcos S. Nicodemus has been found guilty by the Pasay City Regional Trial Court of violations of Republic Act 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act, and RA 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. Though the RTC decision was not provided by the NBI, it said that Nicodemus “was sentenced by the court to a maximum imprisonment of nine years for each of the criminal cases with perpetual disqualification to hold public office.” Marsalek, an Austrian national, has been wanted by the German government for his involvement in the $2.2 billion Wirecard fraud. In 2020, the Philippine government joined the hunt for Marsalek due to Wirecard’s links in the country and discovered travel records that showed that the Austrian came to the Philippines in 2020. Then Department of Justice Secretary and now Solicitor General Menardo I. Guevarra ordered the NBI to conduct an investigation. In August 2020, the NBI “recommended to the DoJ the prosecution of subject Marcos Nicodemus for falsifying the travel records of an Austrian national.” “Investigation conducted by NBI-IAID (NBI-International Airport Investigation Division) revealed that based on Marsalek’s travel records, he arrived in the Philippines through NAIA Terminal 1 on 23 June 2020, processed by Immigration Officer Darren Ilagan but with a mysterious ‘canceled by user’ remark and departure on 24 June 2020 at Mactan-Cebu International Airport processed by Immigration Officer Perry Michael Pancho,” the NBI said. “However, NBI-IAID discovered thru CCTV (closed circuit television) footages that Marsalek never entered the Philippines and he did not even depart through MCIA,” the NBI said. The records of Marsalek were found to be spurious due to the following: Existing immigrations protocol as of that date disallowing passengers from entering Philippine territory due to Covid situation; absence of actual scanned data page of the passport; existing protocol that incoming flights of airlines disallowing the boarding of a passenger who will be prevented entry based on the destination country’s protocol as of flight date. The NBI said that Ilagan testified that Nicodemus, who was his supervisor, “ordered him to conduct a derogatory check upon Marsalek despite the fact that he was already not on duty on that date and that Marsalek is not present during checking.” Guevarra in 2020, said that the travel records of the Marsalek were falsified possibly as “diversionary tactics to mislead his pursuers.” The post Immigration officer convicted appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
CAAP adopts Borongan’s airport-building style
BORONGAN CITY — It was the necessity of getting a direct flight started the soonest that prompted the local government here to build its own airport, albeit in a novel and most cost-effective way given its limited budget. But the novel idea of using a modular construction system in the construction of an airport terminal gave the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines the idea on how it will build airport terminals in the future across the country. Rupert Ambil, Borongan City Information Officer and Flights Operation Chairman of the Borongan City Airport, said the city is the first local government unit in the country to construct its own airport terminal. “Thanks to the innovative design by the engineering team and the remarkable speed at which this project was completed, the CAAP is now adopting the modular design for other airports in the country,” Ambil said. On Thursday, CAAP issued a statement that it will be expanding the use of its modular construction system to more airports across the country, following its completion at Borongan Airport. “CAAP is actively implementing alternative approaches to swiftly address the concerns of passengers such as check-in areas and passenger terminal buildings with limited spaces,” CAAP said. “To address these areas for development, CAAP aims to create more spacious, efficient, and passenger-friendly environments that meet international standards and accommodate the increasing passenger volume of airports,” it added. “The modular construction system, which initially piloted at Borongan Airport, offers a sustainable approach to constructing terminal facilities with passenger amenities, as it minimizes construction waste. It uses pre-fabricated structural steel, a sustainable and cost-effective approach that allows for flexibility in design and rapid construction.” CAAP said it has identified additional airports where the construction system will be implemented. One of them is the Laguindingan Airport in Cagayan de Oro where construction aimed to increase passenger movement is set to start in December 2023 with a total budget of P36 million. The post CAAP adopts Borongan’s airport-building style appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hawaiian child porn convict denied entry
The Bureau of Immigration reported that an American national who was previously convicted for crimes against children in his country was denied entry to the country. BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco identified the passenger as Ronald Huy Young, a 54-year-old male, who was excluded on Sunday (1 October) after arriving at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 on board a Philippine Airlines flight PR101 from Honolulu, Hawaii. Tansingco said that Young was denied entry by the BI officer at NAIA for a violation of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940. Under the said law, foreign nationals who have been previously convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude are inadmissible in the country. According to the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center records, Young pleaded guilty to first-degree electronic enticing of a child. He was listed on the state’s sex registry and given a 10-year prison sentence by Hawaii’s first circuit court in 2008. The BI chief reiterated that aliens with records of sexual crimes are not welcome to the country. Tansingco said that the law is very clear in its intent to protect Filipinos from foreigners who might be engaged in sex tourism and may prey upon the vulnerable. Any aliens with such criminal records are barred from entering the country. The post Hawaiian child porn convict denied entry appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Travelers benefit from MIAA’s STAR program
The Schedule and Terminal Assignment Rationalization program of the Manila International Airport Authority is having a favorable effect on travelers at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The program maximizes the use of the four NAIA terminals starting December 2022 with terminal reassignments for a few airlines. NAIA Terminal 2 has been set aside entirely for domestic flights, in contrast to NAIA Terminal 4, which only accommodates turboprop aircraft. Only NAIA Terminals 1 and 3 are now used to process international flights. MIAA officer-in-charge Bryan Co said that in places like NAIA Terminal 1, where all of Philippine Airlines’ international flights are now listed as serving foreign destinations, passengers have confirmed the convenience and comfort they have felt as a result of the changes. The relocation of Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine employees needed for international flights from NAIA Terminal 2 to NAIA Terminals 1 and 3 resulted in a reduction in wait times. MIAA is now able to increase NAIA Terminal 2’s capacity from 7.5 million to 10 million passengers annually while exclusively serving PAL, AirAsia and Royal Air’s domestic flights as a result of the removal of CIQ infrastructure, including counters and x-ray machines. A senior citizen who was waiting to board her PAL flight PR 2671 to Calbayog shared, “Mas naging accessible, easier to find, and less traffic because of the Skyway (and NAIA Motorway) coming here. Napaka-spacious ng Terminal 2. Mas naging advantageous sa mga senior ones na kamukha ko.” Passengers can now choose from a broader variety of restaurants and retail establishments at NAIA Terminal 3, the largest of the four terminals and home to international airlines, as well as Cebu Pacific’s domestic operations. They also have more time to shop duty-free. With NAIA Terminal 4 now serving purely turboprop flights for Cebgo, AirSWIFT Airlines Philippines, and Sunlight Air, domestic passengers also experienced more streamlined departure and arrival procedures. A passenger who booked Cebgo flight DG 6619 to Naga shared, “The last time I traveled to Davao using the old airport, there were a lot of people. Now, it took me around two to three minutes, and I’m here. It’s so fast. It’s probably been around six years since the last time I used the domestic airport. It’s improved by about 50 percent, and there are a lot of stores. I haven’t experienced any trouble coming in. I’d probably rate it at 10.” The post Travelers benefit from MIAA’s STAR program appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Oona Insurance makes flight delays into moments of delight
Hardly a day goes by without a passenger recounting how an airline spoiled his or her trip due to delays. Data reveals that 30 percent of flights are delayed and one disruption caused, perhaps by damaged plane checkups, rundown runway, or stormy weather, leads to consequential customer frustrations. Starting September, Oona will be turning these frustrations into moments of delight with the launch of its innovative Smart Flight Delay Insurance targeted at the Filipino traveling community. When a traveler comes across such setbacks, Oona alleviates the flight delay experience with an instant lounge voucher the moment a delay is announced, turning the moment of inconvenience into a moment of delight. Smart Flight Delay Insurance Oona’s Smart Flight Delay Insurance offers paperless and instantly accessible purchase options on its website (myoona.ph). In addition, Oona has enabled the purchase via Whatsapp and Chatbot, all with GenAI capabilities, the first in the Philippines. “Oona is focused on becoming the best customer-driven provider of non-life insurance in Southeast Asia and we want to start by solving a very common pain point of Filipinos — the inconvenient experience concerning flight delays,” Oona Insurance founder and group chief executive officer Abhishek Bhatia said. “Besides this, we’ve also solved another pain point by making the product totally paperless and no hassle of filing claims,” Bhatia continued. “We see a great opportunity to serve the Philippines as demand for international travel has started to return to normal. We are excited to lead the way in disrupting and providing cutting edge products that are truly valuable to Filipinos,” Bhatia explained. Affordability to international travelers “What makes our product appealing,” Oona Insurance Philippines president and chief executive officer Ramon Zandueta maintains, is its affordability to Filipino international travelers. The post Oona Insurance makes flight delays into moments of delight appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Filipina who buys fake passport on TikTok intercepted at NAIA
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported on Saturday afternoon that the BI officer at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) intercepted a Filipina after she presented a fake Belgian passport that she bought from TikTok. BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said that the said passenger was intercepted on 5 September at NAIA Terminal 1 after she attempted to depart the country pretending to be a Belgian national. The bureau identified the Filipina passenger as Josephine, who attempted to depart via Kuwait Airways bound for Ercan, Cyprus. BI-NAIA said that Josephine initially presented her Belgian passport to the immigration departure counter, claiming that she was transiting from Kuwait to Izmir, Turkey. However, the BI officer who examined her travel documents found a number of discrepancies on her passport and supposed arrival stamps. She was immediately referred to the duty supervisor, who then sent all her travel documents for forensic examination. After examining her travel documents, the BI’s forensic documents laboratory confirmed that Josephine’s passport, residence card, and immigration stamps were all counterfeit. Josephine later admitted that she has a Philippine passport and used to be an overseas Filipino worker in Israel but she was deported from Israel earlier this year for working without a valid visa. Then, she came across a TikTok video offering EU passports to travel visa-free to multiple countries. She said that she paid a total of P700,000 for her fake documents and she was promised to work in Greece as a caregiver, with an offer of P180,000 per month. After she was offloaded with her flight by the BI, Josephine was immediately turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) for further investigation and assistance. The post Filipina who buys fake passport on TikTok intercepted at NAIA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Star-struck
Roads are only for vehicular traffic, except during emergencies. On 23 August, members of the Hartford Fire Department in Vermont, USA, restricted traffic to one lane in both directions of Interstate 91 in the White River Junction area around evening. The restriction slowed down traffic for 20 to 25 minutes. A hot-air balloon passenger had called 911 as their pilot had to make an emergency landing on the highway median. The balloon, which had stalled mid-flight, was rapidly descending due to lack of wind and could not land at the original site, its operator, Quechee Balloon Rides, said, according to Fox News. Veteran pilot Chris Ritland safely landed the balloon on the secure spot of the road and its four passengers hopped out, unharmed. After landing, the balloon was deflated and the lanes were reopened to traffic. Traffic also slowed down at the intersection of Eighth Avenue and Ninth Avenue in Brooklyn, New York on the night of 22 August as motorists avoided a large group of people gathered in the middle of the street. Joe Delfausse, 82, of Park Slope, had transferred to that spot from the sidewalk because it was the perfect vantage point for stargazing. He invited people who just come from a nearby indie pop concert to view the planet Saturn and the Milky Way, New York Post reported. A viral TikTok video of the scene showed Delfausse standing beside his telescope as a long line of curious people awaited their turn to become star-struck. The post Star-struck appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BOC seized P18.3-M cocaine at NAIA 3
The Bureau of Customs Port of NAIA (BOC-NAIA), with the help of NAIA PDEA-IADITG personnel, caught a passenger carrying 3.5 kilograms of cocaine at NAIA Terminal 3 in Pasay City. The arrested passenger was identified as Zenaida Losloso y Esperanza, a 49-year-old Filipino woman who resides in Ilayang Iyam Lucena City's Venus St., Jael Subdivision. Gerald Javier, the head of NAIA PDEA-IADITG, said that the suspect entered the country on Thursday night by Ethiopian Airlines flight ET644 from Addis Ababa, South Africa, which arrived at NAIA terminal 3. BOC-NAIA said that the port discovered the illegal drugs after the baggage of the suspect passed through the initial X-ray inspection. The alerted X-ray screener tagged it with an "X" mark as a sign that the baggage had suspicious images and needed to undergo a physical inspection. Upon conducting a 100 percent physical examination of the said baggage, the authorities found out that it contained a total of 3,454 grams of cocaine concealed in its lining, with an estimated value of P18,306,200. The suspect and all evidence were surrendered to the PDEA for use in cases related to violating Republic Act No. 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002. The post BOC seized P18.3-M cocaine at NAIA 3 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
CAB chided over surcharge
Lawmaker and lawyer Rufus Rodriguez chided the Civil Aeronautics Board for imposing a higher aviation fuel surcharge, slated to go into effect next month, that would likely result in higher airfares. Considering that airline firms have already imposed “unreasonably very high prices for their plane fares,” Rodriguez wanted the CAB to defer implementing the planned increase. The CAB’s move, according to Rodriguez, indicates a prioritization of airline firms over the welfare of the millions of travelers. Thus, he proposed it should cease the imposition of a higher aviation fuel surcharge to maintain plane fares low. Public first “The CAB is quick in giving more to airlines at the expense of the Filipino riding public,” the Cagayan de Oro solon said. “It has been remiss in penalizing airlines for flight cancellations, overbooking resulting in bumping off of passengers, delays, inordinate baggage policies, and failure of customer service availability,” he added. The CAB, in an advisory dated 16 August, announced that passenger and cargo fuel surcharges for domestic and international flights would increase to Level 6 in September owing to higher fuel prices. Substantial surcharge hike Depending on the distance, the CAB said the increased surcharge would range from P185 to P665 per ticket for domestic flights and from P610.37 to P4,538.40 for international travel. In the current Level 4, passengers are charged P117 to P342 for domestic flights and P385.70 to P2,867.82 for international flights, varying based on the flight distance. While the CAB said that the collection of the higher charge would be optional on the part of airlines, Rodriguez appealed to Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Air Asia, and other carriers to forego the collection of the increased surcharge given that the travel and tourism industry starts to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. “Higher plane fares will dampen both domestic and international travel. I appeal to the carriers to defer the higher surcharge to encourage more tourists,” he said. The post CAB chided over surcharge appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NAIA bomb threat suspect identified
After being identified as the person who allegedly sent a bomb threat through text message to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport hotline, the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group together with the Airport Police Department, arrested the female passenger as the suspect in the recent bomb threat at the NAIA. According to the airport authority, PNP-AVSEGROUP authorities and the APD successfully apprehended a passenger for her alleged involvement in the threat at NAIA Terminal 3 on the night of the same day, based on the report that a text message was received by the NAIA hotline through SMS on Wednesday morning, 16 August 2023. PNP-AVSEU NCR Chief Police Col. Arnel J. Apud identified the suspect as a 21-year-old female presently residing at #036 Jasmine St., Saint 2, Christopher Subdivision, Barangay. Mayapa, Calamba, Laguna, and an outbound passenger of Cebu Pacific flight 5J803 bound for Singapore, with an estimated time of departure of 8:15 p.m. on 16 August. Police Col. Apud said that the reports revealed that after receiving an alleged bomb threat sent via SMS to the NAIA hotline, the operatives from AVSEGROUP, in coordination with the APD, immediately initiated operational research to identify and locate the suspect responsible for the alleged bomb threat. After a thorough investigation and gathering of evidence, later that day, personnel of AVSEGROUP were able to locate the suspect and arrest her for violation of PD 1727, otherwise known as the malicious dissemination of false information or the willful making of any threat concerning bombs, explosives, or any similar device.” She was promptly informed of the nature of her arrest and was apprised of her rights under the law. The suspect was immediately brought to NAIA Police Station 3 for documentation and proper disposition. PBGEN Jack L. Wanky, Director of the Premier Police Force in all airports nationwide, urged the public to refrain from spreading false information regarding security threats. “Such behaviors not only put the safety of all individuals at risk but also disrupt normal operations and induce unwarranted panic to the air-riding public.” “The AVSEGROUP along with airport authorities will not tolerate such reckless behavior. The post NAIA bomb threat suspect identified appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Airport authority arrests suspect in NAIA bomb threat
After being identified as the person who allegedly sent a bomb threat through text message to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport hotline, the Philippines National Police - Aviation Security Group, together with the Airport Police Department, arrested the female passenger as the suspect in the recent bomb threat at the NAIA. According to the airport authority, operatives from the PNP-AVSEGROUP and the APD successfully apprehended a passenger for her alleged involvement in the threat at NAIA Terminal 3. Based on the report, a text message was received by the NAIA hotline through SMS on Wednesday, 16 August 2023. PNP-AVSEU NCR Chief Police Col. Arnel J. Apud identified the suspect as a 21-year-old female presently residing at #036 Jasmine St., Saint 2, Christopher Subdivision, Brgy. Mayapa, Calamba, Laguna, and an outbound passenger of Cebu Pacific flight 5J803 bound for Singapore, with an estimated time of departure of 8:15 p.m. on 16 August. Apud said the reports revealed that after receiving an alleged bomb threat sent via SMS to the NAIA hotline, the operatives from AVSEGROUP, in coordination with the APD, immediately initiated operational research to identify and locate the suspect responsible for the threat. After a thorough investigation and gathering of evidence, later that day, personnel of AVSEGROUP were able to locate the suspect and arrest her for violation of Presidential Decree No. 1727, otherwise known as "the malicious dissemination of false information or the willful making of any threat concerning bombs, explosives, or any similar device." She was promptly informed of the nature of her arrest and was apprised of her rights under the law. The suspect was immediately brought to NAIA Police Station 3 for documentation and proper disposition. P/BGen. Jack L. Wanky, director of the Premier Police Force in all airports nationwide, urged the public to refrain from spreading false information regarding security threats. "Such behaviors not only put the safety of all individuals at risk but also disrupt normal operations and induce unwarranted panic to the air-riding public." The AVSEGROUP along with airport authorities will not tolerate such reckless behavior. The consequences of making false claims, especially in relation to threats as serious as bombs, will be meted out to the full extent of the law. We are fully committed to identifying and apprehending individuals who engage in such unlawful activities. The post Airport authority arrests suspect in NAIA bomb threat appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Overstaying Chinese arrested in NAIA
The Bureau of Immigration at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 reported the arrest of an overstaying Chinese national who attempted to leave the country on 9 August. In the report given to BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco, the arrested Chinese national was identified as Dai Jun, a 27-year-old who attempted to board a Philippine Airlines flight bound for Hong Kong, but the BI-NAIA officers noticed that his name was in the BI’s derogatory records. Tansingco said that the passenger’s name was registered as a hit upon presentation of his passport to their primary inspection officers. Verification with BI records reveals that Dai’s name has been included in the BI’s blacklist since 2021. He was likewise the subject of a watchlist for overstaying and violations of the conditions of his stay. Upon confirmation of his identity, immigration supervisors deferred his departure and arrested him immediately. Now Dai has been transferred to the BI Warden Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, pending his deportation. Meanwhile, Commissioner Tansingco ordered the immediate cancellation of visa for a Chinese national who was recently arrested by the NAIA-AIDIATG at the NAIA Terminal 3 for possession of illegal drugs and live ammunition. NAIA-AIDIATG identified the Chinese national as Qian Qiang, 52 years old. The post Overstaying Chinese arrested in NAIA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl airport ranks 8th in Asia’s worst queueing times — study
The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) ranked No. 8 in Asia's worst airports for queueing times, according to a study by global vacation rental firm Casago. Casago analyzed passenger reviews from Skytrax's airline quality rating, where travelers can rate airports' queueing or waiting times between 1 and 5 stars. Based on its findings, Singapore Changi Airport is the best for queueing times not just in Asia but the whole world, with 74.5 percent of passengers rating the queueing times as either 4 or 5 stars. On the other hand, Kuwait International Airport was rated as the worst in queueing with an 11.11 percent score. Casago said several factors contribute to airport waiting times, such as the volume of passengers, flight delays, and adverse weather conditions, among others. To beat airport queues, it suggested using online check-in, arriving early, and using priority lanes, if applicable. [caption id="attachment_170510" align="aligncenter" width="690"] (Screenshot from Casago / Website)[/caption] The post Phl airport ranks 8th in Asia’s worst queueing times — study appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sky-high irony
Gokongwei-owned Cebu Pacific, a budget airline that always manages to raise eyebrows, has once again blessed us with a seat sale. Oh, how lucky can we be? The airline has hyped up anew its marketing mantra that “Every Juan flies,” only weeks after being forced during a congressional hearing to confront 3,000 complaints of irate customers over its endearing practice of overbooking flights and offloading passengers. To be obstinately hooked on the jingle of cash registers while ignoring the suffering of your paying customers takes a unique kind of expertise, of being able to remain deadpan and sleep at night through the turmoil of your aggravated passengers. For many of those who attended the hearings, Cebu Pacific only cares about the cold ca-ching of its cash registers. No doubt, the seat sale it resurrected last week would result in more passengers being kicked off flights. Overbooking and the accompanying forced passenger dumping, in Cebu Pacific’s vision of reality, well, there’s just a “slight chance” of that. That’s a joke, right? But no one’s laughing, as the joke is on us, the public. Let the sentence hang there for a while. “Slight chance,” they say in an entry on airlineratings.com, as though they’re talking about the prospect of seeing a rare unicorn galloping around the departure gate. But no, this is not about fantastical creatures; rather, it is about reservations piling up on a shaky table like a house of cards. It involves accepting the idea of reserved seating as merely a suggestion, a fun idea to play around with. That is if your idea of fun is being forced to reprise the role of Tom Hanks in the movie, The Terminal. Speaking of whimsical, have you ever heard of their brilliant response to situations in which appeals to “volunteers not to travel on their booked flights” fall on deaf ears? Cebu Pacific has your inconvenience covered, so do not be alarmed. They’ve cleverly reserved the power to refuse boarding to travelers “involuntarily,” or against their will, if involuntarily is not clear enough. This translates to passengers gnashing their teeth, pulling their hair, and tearing up their shirts all they want at CebuPac’s check-in counters, without any chance of boarding a flight for which they’d been sold “reserved” seats. However, let’s not limit our discussion to Cebu Pacific’s poetic handling of passenger interactions. Let’s explore the drama that occurred during the probe of the Senate Committee on Tourism. Senators turned their attention to the airline’s fervent devotion to overbooking as the cause of this comedy of errors, becoming unimpressed by the inventive justifications offered by the company for canceled flights and interminable delays. One senator related tales of suffering and annoyance from her own staff as well as from other passengers. Inevitably, as the hours passed, the hearing evolved into a “grief-sharing session.” People stepped up, spilling stories of delayed flights and canceled hopes. If you will, picture a traveler hoping to leave Tokyo but being compelled to crash on the chilly, hard floor of Narita International Airport. Her offense? Having faith in Cebu Pacific to deliver even the most basic amenities. Then there was the dentistry board exam that was almost missed. How about the flight to Cebu from Manila that was diverted to Busuanga and the haggling that followed to force Cebu Pacific to honor its “Passenger Rights” guarantee of free hotel accommodations? The cherry on top? While those who had been put through the wringer were left wondering how the airline’s priorities seemed to be joyously dancing in the skies, the examinee’s lucky aunt, all the way from Australia, managed to score a ticket for a lovely fee. The spokespersons of Cebu Pacific did, however, exhibit some artistic talent. Lightning strikes, bird crashes, and even runway debris were included in the gallery of “freak incidents” they presented as the causes of their errors. During the sleeper hearing, the way Cebu Pacific’s flight operations unfolded resembled an elaborate opera, complete with loud fights and dramatic exits, as if the cosmos had conspired to make it happen. But what was the highlight of Cebu Pacific’s ludicrous theater? Respect for the “Air Passenger Bill of Rights.” To pledge loyalty to rights that seem to exist only in the world of press releases is a truly great gesture. Amid this flying fiasco, passengers may wonder if they are only pawns in a much bigger game when the airline offers its earnest apologies, makes a few promises, and reveals plans for standby aircraft as if they were doing magic. So here we are, seeing the re-erection of Cebu Pacific’s circus tent of antics. Seat sale? Rubbish. The post Sky-high irony appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
23 dead, six missing as boat capsizes in Philippine lake
A small passenger boat capsized in a lake near the Philippine capital on Thursday, killing 23 people on board and leaving six missing, rescuers said. The accident happened in the early afternoon at Laguna lake, near Manila, hours after Typhoon Doksuri had swept out of the northern Philippines. "Some survivors begged us to rescue those trapped beneath the boat," resident Monica de la Cruz, who watched the rescue effort off the municipality of Binangonan, told AFP. "They were crying and some of them were injured." Cruz said the accident took place following a "sudden gust of wind, big waves and rain", with locals initially too afraid to assist, fearing they would be "dragged down as well". The wooden outrigger "encountered strong winds prompting all passengers to panic" and move to one side of the vessel, the coast guard said in a statement. "The boat had clearance to sail," coast guard spokesman Rear Admiral Armando Balilo told reporters, downplaying speculation the typhoon had caused the accident. The passenger boat was making its regular run from a Binangonan port to the island of Talim in the middle of the lake, municipality rescue official Kenneth Cirados told AFP. Rescuers retrieved 23 bodies from the water and there were 40 survivors, he said. Six people remained missing with the search set to resume Friday. By nightfall, rescuers had righted the boat and dragged it close to shore, where its yellow hull sat in shallow water. A broken motorcycle cargo and soiled pieces of tarp were draped over it. "The boat sank in front of us while on its way home to the island," said Binangonan resident Frederic Sison, who had been standing at the Kalinawan port when the incident happened. Video footage of the rescue shared by the coast guard showed a man standing on the hull of the boat that was lying on its side, shouting "There are so many people here", as small outrigger boats circled trying to help. Another clip showed two rescuers leaning from the side of a boat to pluck a person who appeared to be unconscious from the calm waters. Mobile phone footage taken by Sison and shared with AFP showed anxious people standing on the shore watching the boats take part in the frantic rescue effort. In the video, a young boatman said he saved four people including a disabled person and a girl. A woman could be seen doing chest compressions on one of several victims laid out on the concrete pier, as men lifted more motionless people out of small boats. Boats, including wooden outriggers and passenger ferries that provide transport between islands, had been ordered to shore in Luzon and central islands earlier in the week due to gale warnings as the typhoon intensified the southwest monsoon. The Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands, has a poor maritime safety record, with scores dying in mishaps at sea each year, usually aboard wooden-hulled outriggers used for fishing or to move people from one small island to another. The post 23 dead, six missing as boat capsizes in Philippine lake appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Brazil’s Embraer to build flying taxis in Sao Paulo
Brazilian aeronautics company Embraer and its urban mobility subsidiary Eve said Thursday they would build a factory near Sao Paulo to manufacture electric flying taxis that could take off as soon as 2026. The factory for "electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft" or eVTOL, will be built in the city of Taubate in Sao Paulo state, the companies announced on the 150th anniversary of the birth of Brazilian aviation pioneer Alberto Santos Dumont. Taubate is a city of some 310,000 inhabitants about 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Sao Paulo, Brazil's economic capital. The drone-like passenger vehicles, which resemble small helicopters, will initially be used in taxi fleets, with the first flights costing about $50 to $100 per person per trip, company sources told AFP. The initial flights will have a pilot, but a later rollout of self-piloted vehicles is also on the cards. Each eVTOL can carry four to six passengers. The vehicles will be 100 percent electric, allowing for emissions-free flights. Embraer said it has already received orders for 2,850 eVTOLs worth about $1.5 billion from 28 clients in several countries, including helicopter operators, airlines and flight-sharing platforms. Listed on the New York Stock Exchange, Eve Air Mobility, which has not yet reported revenues, recorded a net loss of $25 million in the first quarter of 2023, due in particular to expenses related to research and development of the eVTOL. Sao Paulo, a megalopolis of 11.5 million people with monster traffic jams, has the largest helicopter fleet in the world. "We believe in the enormous potential of the global Urban Air Mobility market," Embraer president Francisco Gomes Neto said in a statement. Added Eve vice president of program management and operation, Alice Altissimo: "We are equipped to efficiently scale the production volume sustainably to meet the demands of a growing market." The post Brazil’s Embraer to build flying taxis in Sao Paulo appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BAI seizes meat products
The Bureau of Animal Industry on Thursday reported that its operatives intercepted 51.5 kg of various processed meat products from two Indonesian passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. According to BAI, the two passengers arrived at NAIA Terminal 1 at around 7 a.m. via Philippine Airlines flight PR536 and based on initial reports, Bureau of Customs duty examiner Norman Penaflor intercepted the two passengers carrying products including hotdogs, marinated chicken nuggets and other processed meat products. The confiscated meat products were turned over to BAI. Reports also said that the Indonesians failed to show an import permit, which is required to bring in items that are absolutely prohibited from entering the Philippines owing to the suspected disease they carry. The confiscated mixed processed meat products will be taken by BAI to their facility for proper disposal. Meanwhile, on the same flight, the Bureau of Plant Industry at NAIA Terminal 1 confiscated 4.1 kg of various plants brought by another passenger. The post BAI seizes meat products appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»