Philippine travel agents lauded budget carrier Cebu Pacific for refunding P2.4 billion to clients who have cancelled bookings due to COVID-19.
"This is welcome news and I hope they can complete 100 percent sooner than later,” Ritchie Tuano, president of the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA), said.
The PTAA has 605 members operating nationwide, including 439 travel agencies that offer mixed services from being retailers, wholesalers, tour, and transport operators. Tuano said 18 to 22 percent of the establishments are accredited by the Department of Tourism (DoT).
The association had earlier said that they are now seeking reimbursements worth P940 million from cancelled flights from 27 airlines, including domestic carriers Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and AirAsia and some notable international international airlines such as Emirates Airlines, Qatar Airways Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways International, and Turkish Airways.
Cebu Pacific asked for patience and understanding among its clients as they continue to enhance their refund process to resolve the problem “soonest.”
The airline said it is only able to operate 10 percent of its pre-COVID network as the tourism and aviation industries were the hardest hit amid the unprecedented crisis brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are currently halfway through refund requests filed last April," it added.
The airline said the amount is equivalent to 50 percent of refund requests received from various travelers.