PAL considers ‘replacement’ flights for passengers affected by Tisoy

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is considering mounting replacement flights to accommodate passengers affected by the closure of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the company said Tuesday.

The carrier is now working to rebook affected passengers, but is also considering replacement flights, PAL spokesperson Maria Cielo Villaluna said in an interview on GMA Super Radyo dzBB.

“Pumasok na po tayo sa peak season, so we will endeavor to rebook them to the next available flight, but of course, may mga plano rin na tinatawag namin na replacement flight,” she said.

All terminals of NAIA are closed for 12 hours on December 3, 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., Typhoon Tisoy ravages across the country—particularly through the Bicol region.

PAL has since canceled flights, both domestic and international.

“‘Yung mga affected passengers, you re-accommodate them sa system when they rebook, to the nearest possible (flight). Kung masyadong malayo before talagang maasikaso lahat, everybody can be covered by their own second flight. Then the company will consider mounting a replacement flight,” Villaluna said.

“We will make an announcement kung tuloy ito, but nilalatag pa ito because we’re also monitoring the typhoon situation,” she added.

In the same interview, Villaluna said PAL will conduct recovery flights as soon as NAIA operations resume at 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Recovery flights are the return flights of aircraft in outstations to the main hub in Manila.

“‘Pag bukas ng aming regular flights mamayang gabi, ang priority siyempre 'yung mga regular arriving flight, and then susunod na 'yung recovery flight. Binabalik sa hub ‘yung mga eroplano na sinecure mo sa outstations,” she said. —VDS, GMA News