Noynoy says pilots in PAL row may be liable By Marie A. Surbano 08/02/2010

EIGHT MORE FLIGHTS CANCELLED Noynoy says pilots in PAL row may be liable By Marie A. Surbano 08/02/2010 Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) yesterday said it rejected the resignation of more than two dozens of its pilots and gave them seven days to return to work or face court charges as President Aquino said his government would intervene in the labor dispute which had caused flight cancellations. Aquino added labor officials would study whether the pilots had breached their contracts. “If this was not warranted, then they lay themselves also open to appropriate charges,” Aquino said. The Association of Airline Pilots of the Philippines, which represents the PAL pilots, could not be reached immediately for comment. In a statement, PAL said the resignation of more than two dozen pilots is illegal and violative of their existing contracts. PAL cancelled another eight flights yesterday after calling off 11 international and domestic flights the other day when the crisis within the airline as a result of pilot shortage. PAL said most of the affected passengers in the cancelled flights were accommodated in merged or succeeding flights. “PAL will make sure that all passengers are attended to,” the airline said as it assured the public that it hopes to get schedules back to normal within a week. The eight cancelled flights yesterday included the Manila-Cagayan-Manila (PR181/182); Manila-Bacolod-Manila (PR133/134); Manila-Iloilo-Manila (PR147/148); and Manila-Cebu-Manila (PR847/848). Meanwhile, a Manila-Iloilo-Manila flight (PR145/146) that usually departs Manila at 4:20 pm but was rescheduled to 6:30 pm.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100802hed1.html

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