PAL keeps Philippines-South Korea flight frequencies despite travel restrictions

Lucio Tan-led flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) said Thursday it is keeping its flight frequencies to and from South Korea despite a travel restriction imposed on parts of the East Asian nation due to rising cases of the deadly novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infections.

"We still maintain the same number of flight frequencies for now," PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said in a text message to reporters.

However, Villaluna said PAL may "downgrade from wide to narrowbody aircraft" for its Philippine-South Korea  flights.

On Wednesday, Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Disease approved the entry ban on travelers coming from the North Gyeongsang province of South Korea effective immediately. https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/727406/philippines-imposes-travel-ban-on-south-korean-province-due-to-covid-19/story/

Panelo also said Filipino tourists would not be allowed to travel to the whole of South Korea.

Despite maintaining the frequencies of its Philippine-South Korea flights, Villaluna said PAL is implementing the following guidelines.

-For South Korea to the Philippines: Travel ban applies to all passengers who have been to North Gyeongsang province including Daegu city (regardless of nationality and regardless of date of travel from North Gyeongsang province).
   
-For the Philippines to South Korea: Travel ban applies to all Filipinos traveling for tourism. Filipinos who are studying in Korea, employed in Korea, or holding a permanent resident visa in Korea are exempted provided that they show proof of identification/documentation.

“Passengers transferring through Korea are not covered by the ban, while foreign tourists are allowed to take PAL's Manila to South Korea flights,” Villaluna said.

PAL operates 21 flights between Manila and South Korea.

The carrier has 14 weekly flights between Manila and Incheon route, and seven weekly flights between Manila and Busan. —LDF, GMA News