Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Cebu Pacific continue to register higher flight on-time performance (OTP) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in October 2019.
PAL reported an all-time high OTP rating of 92% in October, following ratings of 80%, 82%, and 89% in July, August, and September, respectively.
Cebu Pacific registered an OTP of 84.71% for October, an improvement from 80.66% in September.
According to the Air Carriers’ Association of the Philippines (ACAP), the combined OTP of several Philippine air carriers has increased to 78% in the period July to September, as compared to the 65% rating in the first quarter of the year and 62% for the second quarter.
“The improved OTP is a result of the close cooperation and coordination with concerned government agencies to minimize delays across our network. The industry is also better coordinated so that when there are weather disruptions, such as lightning alerts that close the airfield, we are able to minimize the impact,” Cebu Pacific chief operations officer Michael Ivan Shau said.
PAL senior vice president for airline operations Stanley K. Ng also credited the achievement to the building of rapid exit taxiways at NAIA, enhancement of air navigation systems, and renovation of runways and taxiways.
One of the measures of aviation and airport efficiency, OTP indicates the percentage of flight departures and arrivals that takes place within 15 minutes from schedule, including cancellations.
In June, PAL and Cebu Pacific, along with AirAsia Philippines, Cebgo, and PAL Express, signed a pledge of commitment to help decongest NAIA through improved OTP, support the development of other gateways including Sangley Airport in Cavite, and improve the travel experience of air passengers.
Additionally, airline OTP is published daily by the Department of Transportation to push for improved performance and promote the airlines’ accountability to the air-riding public.