THE militant Makabayan bloc yesterday filed a bill seeking to provide a uniform scheme for refund and rebooking of airline tickets for flights affected by prolonged natural disasters or pandemics.
Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) party-list Rep. France Castro said their group filed House Bill No. 8556 or the Pandemic Airfare Relief Act to protect the rights and interests of airline passengers by providing them with a clear and uniform set of guidelines for refund and rebooking of their tickets in cases of prolonged natural disasters or pandemics.
The bill, first filed in the 18th Congress by Bayan Muna and other members of the Makabayan bloc, also seeks to ensure that airlines are held accountable for any disruptions caused by these events.
The bill said that while air travel is put on halt, “one of the issues that will arise is the procedure of refunding or rebooking tickets, as there is no uniform policy set by law to give guidance to airlines, especially with the situation that would entail massive flight cancellations such as the one brought by this pandemic.
“Current rules and regulations on rebooking and/or travel refund rely only on the unilateral guidelines set by the airlines themselves. Regulators and authorities have not anticipated the massive effect of the pandemic on airlines and its passengers,” it said.
Castro, who filed the bill with party-list Reps. Arlene Brosas of Gabriela and Raoul Manuel of Kabataan, said that during times of natural disasters or pandemics, “airline passengers are among the most vulnerable.
“They are often left stranded and unsure of what their rights are when it comes to refunds and rebooking of their flights. The Pandemic Airfare Relief Act seeks to address this by providing a clear and uniform set of guidelines for both passengers and airlines to follow,” Castro said.
She added the bill is particularly important given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has disrupted air travel and left many passengers stranded or unable to travel as planned.
“We urge our fellow lawmakers to support this bill and ensure that the rights and interests of airline passengers are protected during times of natural disasters or pandemics,” Castro said.
