The Filipino - American community appealed to the Los Angeles (LA) City Council to intervene in LAWA (Los Angeles Worlds Airport)'s move to transfer the Philippine Airlines (PAL) Gates from the main terminal of LA International Airport (LAX) to the Midfield Satellite Concourse, at least 20 minutes walk away, effective June 15, 2021.
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It was a "customer insensitive decision" on LAWA's part, said Fil - Am Community Leader Ethel Rubio, who yesterday (June 2) issued the call to the LA City Council.
PAL was the top wheelchair user among international carriers at LAX in 2020, with 35 percent of its passengers aged 59 and above, of which 28 percent request for wheelchairs.
On the average, the flag carrier transports anywhere from 20 to 80 wheelchair passengers per flight.
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Hence, "The move to new concourse gates will aggravate the mobility of the ageing population which makes up more than a third of PAL passengers, Rubio stressed.
"Please help us reverse this decision in behalf of the Filipino - American elderly in your district," she implored the council.