Lawmaker seeks cure to unfair security practices by airlines

Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles today expressed grave concern over the safety of airline passengers walking the grounds at plane parking bays, maybe unknowingly, putting their lives at risk when boarding and disembarking.

“This is one of the disturbing concerns relative to air travel which came out during our public hearing,” Nograles said.

The House committee on Transportation is deliberating on House Bill 2957, authored by Marikina Rep. Marcelino ‘Marcy’ Teodoro, seeking to establish a national policy on fair treatment of airline travelers that prohibits unfair and deceptive practices and unfair methods of competition by air carriers.

“What is the use of aerotubes if airline companies do not use them? This is a clear practice of compromising safety of airline passengers? Why?” Nograles asked as he chaired the public hearing in lieu of Chairman Roger Mercado.

During the open public hearing, Nograles directed the CAAP, MIAA and other airport authorities including Mactan, Subic, Clark and Davao to, in turn, issue a directive to all airlines to use the aerobridge airport tubes in boarding and disembarkation of passengers to ensure their safety.

“Government built these aero-tubes using public money to serve public interest, especially public safety,” Nograles stressed as he expressed support for Rep. Teodoro’s proposed “Airline Passenger Fairness Act of 2012.”

The committee, Nograles said, received numerous complaints about passengers being made to walk the grounds, thereby, exposing passengers, including differently- abled or passengers with disabilities, to danger even when aerobridge tubes are available.

“CAAP admitted their concern over the safety of passengers being made to walk the grounds of airplane parking bays very close to airplane engines,” Nograles revealed.

In addition, the committee also inquired into airline companies’ inflexibility in the 45- minutes check- in rule even when the delay is caused by the airline.

In practice, passengers are required to check-in 45 minutes before departure, otherwise they forfeit their seat.

“However, even when the time of departure is delayed, the 45- minute rule is pegged at the original departure time,” the lawmakers said.

At the same time, Rep. Dakila Cua said that if the plane is delayed due to the fault of the airline, then the passengers must not be made to suffer the forfeiture of his/ her seat if he does not check in 45 minutes before the original check in.

“Why do you do that (forfeiting seat reservation)? Is it because you overbook?” Cua asked. The airline companies admitted during the hearing that that it is a standard practice to overbook by 10%.

Resolutions to conduct inquiries on other practices such as issuing nonrefundable/non-reroutable tickets, flight delays and cancellations, and other unfair practices of airlines were also filed by Reps. Acmad Tomawis, Eulogio Magsaysay, Christopher Co, Carol Jane Lopez, Francisco Matugas, and Teddy Casiño.

“We will take up the said issues during the next hearing,” Nograles assured.