Qatar Airways asked to reconsider decision

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu business sector, led by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and industry (CCCI), is asking Qatar Airways to reconsider its decision to suspend its eight-year commercial direct flight from Cebu to Doha effective this month.

In a letter addressed to Mohammed El Emam, Qatar Airways commercial manager, CCCI president Samuel Chioson emphasized the fact that the presence of direct flight from Cebu to Europe’s gateway--Doha is instrumental to Cebu’s tourism and investment growth.

“We are indeed struck by this news as Qatar Airways since 2003 has made exemplary contributions in bridging and building up business, investment and tourism of Cebu to various destinations around the world more particularly in Europe and the Middle East,” Chioson said in his letter to El Emam.

Chioson however, is confident that the airline’s management will seriously look into this issue, while the private sector is also seeking help from the Department of Tourism (DOT).

On the other hand, The Freeman tried to contact DOT-7 regional director Rowena Montecillo on this matter, but she was not available for comment, despite several attempts.

Earlier, Montecillo promised to talk with the Qatar Airways management for reconsideration of their decision.

According to Chioson, the suspension of the airline’s direct flight in Cebu would have adverse effect to the economy not only in the province, but the entire Central Visayas region.

Together with other private organizations, such as Hotel, Resorts, Restaurants Association (HRRAC), Cebu Tourism Association, the Philippine Retailers Association in Cebu, the Philippine Association of Real Estate Brokers in Cebu, among others, CCCI taking its lead to counter the airline’s management decision, hoping that unprofitability and other concerns will be addressed by helping each other.

“We recognized Qatar Airways tremendous contribution in transforming Cebu as the business and tourism hub in the Asia-Pacific. The HRRAC for one is in Melbourne, Australia securing more market for Cebu. The Department of Tourism envisions to gather over 4.0M foreign tourist arrivals this year. The major operators in this industry are already “up in arms” closing contracts to Cebu’s advantage,” Chioson mentioned in his letter.

Eight years ago, Qatar Airways made a commitment during its inaugural Doha-Cebu QR638 flight that landed in Cebu City on December 11, 2003 after a brief stopover in Singapore, to extend services to the Philippines with the new thrice-weekly service to Cebu being its 48th destination.   

Truly, a number of passengers not only Filipinos working in the Gulf States have been able to take advantage of the only direct flight from the region to Cebu, Chioson said.

“We do understand the factors that triggered Qatar Airways to suspend its flights to our island, but we are in dire need of the services of your airways to connect us directly to and from Europe.   Therefore, in behalf of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, we hereby appeal for reconsideration not to suspend flights to Cebu,” the CCCI letter stressed.

Furthermore, according to Chioson informed El Emam that the CCCI is also lobbying this concern to the Philippine Government asking that “they will revisit the bi-lateral agreement with Doha and be able to address the concerns of the airline industry.” (FREEMAN)