CAAP: Cebu Pacific petition to fly to EU has to wait

MANILA, Philippines – Budget carrier Cebu Pacific will have to wait until March of next year to mount flights to Europe, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

CAAP Deputy Director-General Capt. John Andrews said that Cebu Pacific’s petition before the European Union (EU) for the lifting of a ban that prohibits the airline to fly to Europe will have to wait until 2014 as government is focused on the relief and rehabilitation of areas hit by Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

When asked if Cebu Pacific has already met EU representatives, Andrews said: “No. That is being postponed to January now because of the present situation.”

Andrews noted that the budget carrier is likely to make its presentation to EU in January, but EU reviews airlines’ compliance to aviation safety standards every March and November.

Cebu Pacific was supposed to seek EU’s nod to fly to Europe this month.

In July, EU lifted a ban on legacy carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL). PAL has resumed flights to Europe, restarting its London service on November 4.

US flights

Aside from flying to Europe, Cebu Pacific is also working on mounting flights to the US particularly Guam and Hawaii. The Philippines expects its aviation safety status to be upgraded by the US Federal Aviation Administration (US FAA) back to Category 1 within the year. This will allow local airlines to open new routes and launch additional flights to the US.

The country’s status was downgraded by the US FAA upon the recommendation of the International Civil Aviation Organization in 2008 when CAAP failed to pass the safety standards for the oversight of air carrier operations. – Rappler.com