JG Summit Holdings Inc, a company that controls a budget airline, recently made headlines when its CEO and president, Lance Gokongwei, was seen flying with Philippine Airlines. Gokongwei was spotted by flight attendant Apples Ramos De Luna, who shared a photo on her Instagram with the caption “Thank you for flying with us.

JG Summit Holdings is the parent company of Cebu Pacific, a budget airline that also offers international flights, though to a more limited number of destinations. On the other hand, Philippine Airlines is the country’s flag carrier, operating over 40 international routes including flights to Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

Although De Luna’s post is no longer available on Instagram, copies of the photo have been preserved by some publications and social media accounts. In one of the posts, a Facebook user claimed to have been on the same flight as Gokongwei, stating that he was on a business class seat while the user was in economy. The post also mentioned that there are no Cebu Pacific flights to New York, the destination of the flight.

Some individuals have defended Gokongwei’s choice to fly with Philippine Airlines instead of his own company’s airline. They stated that it is not a matter of disloyalty, but rather choosing the right airline for the right route. For instance, if Gokongwei needed to travel to the US or Europe, Philippine Airlines would be the logical option since Cebu Pacific does not operate those flights.

Even a travel agency joined in the conversation, highlighting that despite Gokongwei being the owner of Cebu Pacific, he chose to fly with Philippine Airlines. The agency stated that this is a great example of supporting any Philippine carrier as it ultimately supports the country.

It is worth noting that Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines have different business models, with Cebu Pacific being a low-fare carrier and Philippine Airlines offering full-service flights. This explains why Gokongwei, as a businessman, may choose to fly with another airline that better suits his needs.

In conclusion, the presence of Lance Gokongwei on a Philippine Airlines flight may have raised some eyebrows, but it is ultimately a personal choice that should not be seen as disloyalty to his own company. It is important to support all Philippine carriers in order to boost the country’s aviation industry.