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Freedom Air sets $25 cancellation fee
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Posted on Mar 28 2005
Freedom Air will impose a $25 cancellation fee on passengers not showing up for their confirmed scheduled flights, effective immediately.
Patrick Galimba, the airline’s human resource manager, said the charges would only be waived if the passengers call in at least 48 hours before the scheduled flight and either cancel or reschedule for another day.
Galimba issued the notice to all travel agencies holding Freedom Air ticket stocks or have an agreement with the airline regarding travel arrangements.
“There have been too many occasions where passengers ticketed from travel agencies do not show up for their confirmed scheduled flights and as a result, Freedom Air ends up with open seats at the last minute and [it] is too late to sell,” Galimba said. “[M]any attempts have been made to try and contact the travel agency from which the tickets were issued when this happens, but to no avail.”
He maintained that such occurrence had cost Freedom Air substantial revenues. “We cannot afford nor will continue to lose revenue like this,” he said.
The airline asked travel agencies to inform customers about the cancellation fees, which, Galimba said, took effect upon the travel companies’ receipt of the March 16 notice.
He also requested all travel firms to provide Freedom Air a means to contact them during non-working hours or on weekends and holidays, in case of cancellations.
Freedom Air is a division of Aviation Services Ltd. that is based at Guam International Airport.
The airline and Cape Air, which has a code-share agreement with Continental Micronesia, are now the only two carriers providing inter-island service within the Marianas.
Pacific Island Aviation ceased operation of all scheduled flights staring Feb. 9 due to stiff competition in the market and high operation costs.
