ACAP: Airlines In Philippines Eager To Restart Flights
ACAP – The Air Carriers Association of the Philippines recently said that local airlines in the Philippines are eager to restart flights.
According to Inquirer, the association said in a statement that member airlines recently prepared a list of safety measures as they aim to win back flyers once strict quarantine protocol will be lifted possibly by the end of May.
The airlines association is composed of the nation’s leading airlines: Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and Air Asia Philippines Ever since the middle of March, flights have been postponed due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
“The aviation industry has always been held to a higher standard for safety and risk management versus other forms of mass transportation, and as such, processes and procedures that uphold the welfare and safety of passengers and personnel have been put in place to prevent the risk of infection from viruses and other contaminants,”
Specific measures might vary per airline, according to ACAP vice chair and executive director Roberto “Bobby” Lim. Lim, however, said that among the measures include the following:
- minimized contact between passengers and airline staff,
- increased use of online and digital check-in and boarding,
- intensified cleaning and disinfection of all aircraft and facilities
Modern air vessels are also equipped with High Efficiency Particulate Air filters which capture viruses, bacteria and other contaminants with 99.99% efficiency.
The said filters were the same technology used in operating rooms of major hospitals.
As per the report, the association has been working with government agencies in imposing other protocol. Among these include limiting passengers inside the airport terminals for those with confirmed flights, temperature checks and mandatory use of face masks.
The industry repeated its call for financial assistance as members are struggling with billions of pesos in lost revenues and expenses.
The association has been appealing for aid under the Philippine Economic Stimulus Act, which it proposed, through long term credit facility, working capital credit lines, credit guarantee arrangements, and temporary relief from navigational and airport charges.
“To be clear, we are not asking for a bail-out or dole-out from government,”
“The liquidity problems faced by the Philippine aviation industry are very similar to the challenges that airlines all over the world are dealing with. Airlines all over the world are already in talks with their respective governments for relief packages and inclusion in stimuli programs, many of which have already been granted,”
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