by FFE PH News staff

Budget Philippine airline Cebu Pacific would have to wait until next year for their petition to fly to Europe to be considered. This is because the aviation board is still focused on the relief efforts for typhoon Yolanda victims.

The original plan was for Cebu Pac to apply for the lifting of their European Union (EU) flights ban this month. Last July, the EU lifted its ban on national flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL). PAL resumed its direct flights service to Europe earlier this month.

Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines deputy director general captain John Andrews said that Cebu Pac presentation to the EU ‘is being postponed to January now because of the present situation [in Visayas].’

Meanwhile, the airline is currently acquiring around 50 Airbus aircrafts in its $4 billion re-fleeting programme. The new planes are geared up for long-haul flights.

Cebu Pac president and CEO Lance Gokongwei has yet to reveal more about the airline’s planned flights to Europe.