Cathay Pacific : “We stand ready to help”

HONG KONG :  The City’s flagship airline, Cathay Pacific Airways, on Tuesday announced on social media “we stand ready to help” overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong left stranded after their travel plans for Christmas in Philippines was thrown in disarray when tickets bought through Peya Travel could not be confirmed, as reported by South China Morning Post. The airline has announced offering ‘distress fares’ for remaining seats and exploring possibility of putting larger planes on its Manila route which would make up to a few hundred more economy seats available for helpers, SCMP added.

“For Filipino friends affected by the issues related to a HK travel agent not affiliated with us, we stand ready to help as much as we can,” Cathay posted on its Twitter account Tuesday, urging the OFWs to contact them for concerns. Cathay Pacific urged helpers to contact its call centre at 27473333 or use Twitter or Facebook to send private message.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Philippine Consulate on Wednesday said one of its diplomats had spoken to the co-owner of Peya Travel and urged the company to fully honour its obligations and responsibilities to customers.  As many as 500 people, predominately domestic helpers, have been left devastated by the travel fiasco.