The country’s flag carrier Philippine Airlines rescheduled more flights Tuesday and braced for a long impasse after failing to resolve its row with its pilots.
Flights to Cagayan, PR 181 and PR 182 at 4:45 a.m. and 6:50 a.m. respectively, have been rescheduled. Flights to Bacolod, PR 135 and PR 136 at 5:00 p.m. and 6:45 p.m., were also rescheduled. Flights to Iloilo, PR 147 and PR 148 to Iloilo, 6:00 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. have been rescheduled as well.
According to the PAL Corporate Communications Department, they may reduce the number of flights to these three destinations permanently.
More than 30 flights have already been canceled over the past few days after the mass resignation of its pilots, reportedly to seek better opportunities abroad.
PAL said the pilots allegedly resigned without giving the company ample time to train their replacements and has given them seven days to return to work or face sanctions.
PAL executives and pilots met together with government officials on Monday but failed to resolve the row. (See: Govt officials meet with PAL execs, pilots but fail to resolve row)
No word from the pilots
Meanwhile, there has been no word from the pilots about their return. "Well wala pa rin ho kaming balitang nakukuha kung babalik sila although bingiyan namin sila ng pagkakataon na sana makabalik sila sa lalong madaling panahon (We have not received word on when they would return but we will give them the chance to return at the soonest possible time)," said PAL president Jaime Bautista on Unang Balita Tuesday morning.
Contrary to DOLE's statement that the pilots are not answerable to PAL, Bautista said the pilots are tied to the obligations stated in their signed contracts.
"Well meron naman po dahil meron kaming pinirmahang kontrata. Meron silang obligasyon na tuparin ang aming pinagkasunduan (They have [an obligation] because they signed a contract with us. They have an obligation to fulfill what we have agreed on)," he said.
Bautista said PAL's lawyers are looking at various options, which include requesting the airlines to send the pilots back as they have yet to fulfill their obligations to PAL>
"If they (the pilots) do not return, we may request that their permit to operate in the Philippines be canceled," said Bautista.
Bautista said PAL is yet not feeling the financial impact of the pilots' mass resignation, which led to the cancellation of almost 32 flights. He admits, however, that if the problem persists, it could have a financial impact on the company.
To cope with the lack of pilots, Bautista said PAL changed flight schedules and used larger aircrafts that could accommodate more passengers.
PAL expects their schedule to be back to normal within a week although they could have less flights.
No government takeover of PAL
Transportation Secretary Jose de Jesus hinted Tuesday they are preparing to mediate between the PAL management and the pilots.
"We will do what we can for as long as it takes ... That's our objective, to try and work it out," he said in an interview on dwIZ radio.
De Jesus downplayed the possibility of a government takeover of PAL should the problem persist.
He had said earlier the government is studying tapping government pilots to fly PAL planes if the pilots do not return to work.
"That's a very extreme measure and I consider it very, very remote," he said in a separate interview on dzXL radio, referring to a government takeover of PAL.
Meanwhile, Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim hopes PAL could resolve its problem before the tourist season starts to peak anew in October.
"Mabuti na lang low season ngayon for tourism. Ang high season October to May. Itong season ay low season pero marami pa rin nagbibiyahe (For tourism, it is fortunate that now is a low season for tourism. The high season lasts from October to May. Still, there are many tourists taking flights to the Philippines at this time)," Lim said in an interview on dzXL radio.
Lim downplayed the impact of the present PAL row on the country's international image and said he will help his colleagues resolve the row.
"Kung di tumagal naman, okay na. Ang turista ay naghihintay lang na malutas ang problema. Habang may problema ang ibang carrier nakikinabang (If the problem is solved quickly, it will not be a dent on tourism. Tourists are just waiting for the crisis to clear. On the other hand, if the problem persists, there are other air carriers waiting to accommodate them)," he said.
Lim said he will meet with De Jesus and Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz on the matter.
"Kami ang kagawaran na apektado, nasa kanila ang kapangyarihan na pwede gawan ng paraan para malutas ang problema kung tumagal (The Tourism Department is affected but the Labor and Transportation Departments have the power to act on the issue)," he said.
PAL defends retirement age, multitasking issues
PAL spokesman Jonathan Gesmundo defended the retirement age of 40 for flight attendants, saying this is indicated in the collective bargaining agreement.
He also defended the airline's policy of having its personnel practice multitasking, saying it should be the work ethic there. "Lahat yan mula presidente hanggang clerk hanggang pinakamababang empleyado (That work ethic should apply to everyone, from the president to the lowest ranking employee)," he said.
He hoped employees would understand PAL is still recovering from the effects of an economic crisis. — VVP/RSJ
