PAL flights back to normal

By Abigail Kwok
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 17:15:00 08/03/2010

MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE) After several cancelled flights due to labor disputes, the Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Tuesday announced that its operations are "back to normal."
PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said domestic flights to Iloilo, Bacolod, and Cagayan de Oro cities have been rescheduled while its other flights "continue to operate normally and as scheduled."
The flag carrier axed three flights after a number of pilots walked out to take higher-paid jobs abroad.
The cuts affected a tiny portion of the airline's 160 daily trips, while the flag carrier's international flights are not affected, company officials earlier said.

The rescheduled flights are those to and from Bacolod (PR135/136), Cagayan de Oro (PR 181/182 except Thursdays), and Iloilo (PR147/148), said Villanueva.

“Passengers booked on rescheduled flights are being advised accordingly to avoid any inconvenience or delays at the airport," she said.

Twenty-five pilots and first officers quit abruptly last week, forcing the cancellation of 18 PAL flights on Saturday and Sunday and four domestic flights on Monday, PAL spokesman Jonathan Gesmundo said.

President Benigno Aquino III has since stepped in, with members of his Cabinet meeting with PAL management on Monday to resolve the issue before it affects tourism and travel.
The meetings were expected to continue Tuesday, PAL president Jaime Bautista said.
"We want them all (pilots) back," Bautista said.

PAL said the pilots did not comply with an airline rule to give 180 days' notice before resigning. It also says the pilots still owed the airline for part of their training costs.

Bautista said PAL could not compete with the hefty salaries being offered by airlines abroad.
PAL has been beset by growing labor unrest for months with ground crews and flight attendants threatening strikes.

For a complete listing of PAL’s domestic and international flights, passengers may visit PAL’s website or call 855-8888. With a report from Agence France-Presse