Senators Flag Last-Minute Flight Cancellations, Seek Policy Review

MANILA, Philippines — Senators on Wednesday questioned the abrupt cancellations of flights during bad weather, saying passengers should not have to travel for hours to the airport only to find out that their flights had been canceled. During a Senate committee on finance hearing on the 2027 spending plan of the Department of Science and Technology, Senator Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on public services, said that airlines should make decisions on flight cancellations much earlier. "It is unfair for passengers to spend hours traveling to the airport only to be informed of the cancellation," Poe said. Senator Sonny Angara, who presided over the hearing, agreed, saying that airlines should provide passengers with advance notice of flight cancellations. "We need to have a better system in place to inform passengers about flight cancellations," Angara said. The senators also urged the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to review the existing policies on flight cancellations and to come up with measures that would protect the welfare of passengers. The issue of flight cancellations has been a recurring problem in the Philippines, especially during the typhoon season. Passengers often face significant delays and cancellations, leading to financial losses and inconvenience. The senators' call for a policy review is expected to push for more proactive measures from airlines and aviation authorities to address this issue.