For the next two weeks, Ninoy Aquino International Airport will only serve passengers on international routes.
Passengers boarding a Philippine Airlines jet at Caticlan Airport. (Photo: artran/iStock)
In an advisory published on its website, PAL announced the cancellation of all scheduled domestic flights to and from Manila until August 18. This decision was made in line with the government’s reimposition of a stricter 14-day lockdown, officially known as “modified enhanced community quarantine,” on Metro Manila and the surrounding provinces.
The Philippines has been experiencing a surge in coronavirus cases over the past few weeks. A record high in the daily count of newly confirmed infections set over the weekend was broken on Tuesday, when more than 6,300 cases were added, roughly half of which were found in Metro Manila. Under the latest lockdown measures, public transportation across the capital region has been suspended, restaurants are now restricted to takeout service, and stay-at-home orders have taken effect, with residents only allowed to step out for buying essential goods or exercise.
While domestic flights to and from Manila have been grounded for now, PAL’s international services are still operating throughout this 14-day period, though they will be subject to government guidelines based on the capacity of quarantine facilities for returning travelers. Philippine Airlines says that domestic passenger services between Clark, Cebu, Davao, and cities in other parts of the country remain unaffected.
According to PAL, travelers who have reserved seats on canceled flights have several options on the table. They can rebook at no extra charge and complete their journeys on or before November 30, 2020, refund their tickets without a penalty, or convert them into a travel voucher with an extra 10 percent added to the value of the original booking. Travel vouchers will be valid for one year from the date of issue and their validity can be extended for another year if required.
More information here.
