PAL cancels more flights due to international travel restrictions

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines is cancelling more international flights despite the recent government decision to allow all Filipinos abroad, whether OFW or not, to enter the country. 

PAL said the flight cancellations is due to the 1,500-a-day limit in the maximum number of passenger arrivals from international flights for all airlines combined, at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport from 8:00 a.m. of March 18 to 8:00 a.m. of April 19. 

The restrictions are part of a series of pandemic control measures announced by the authorities.

PAL said the following flights are canceled:

March 19

• PR 117 Vancouver-Manila
• PR 507/508 Manila-Singapore-Manila
• PR 100/101 Manila-Honolulu-Manila
• PR 102/103 Manila-Los Angeles-Manila
• PR 126 Manila-New York
• PR 300/301 Manila-Hong Kong-Manila
• PR 427/428 Manila-Tokyo (Narita)-Manila
• PR 425/426 Manila-Fukuoka-Manila
• PR 411/412 Manila-Osaka (Kansai)-Manila

March 20

• PR 127 New York-Manila
• PR 5682/5683 Manila-Dammam-Manila
• PR 104/105 Manila-San Francisco-Manila
• PR 658/659 Manila-Dubai-Manila

March 21

• PR 102/103  Manila- Los Angeles - Manila
• PR 427/428 Manila-Tokyo (Narita)-Manila
• PR 535  Manila-Jakarta
• PR 110  Manila-Guam

March 22

• PR 536 Jakarta-Manila
• PR 111  Guam-Manila
• PR 421/422  Manila-Tokyo (Haneda)-Manila
• PR 437/438 Manila-Nagoya-Manila
• PR 5682/5683 Manila – Dammam - Manila

March 23

• PR 507/508  Manila-Singapore-Manila
• PR 412/411  Manila-Osaka Kansai-Manila
• PR 890/891  Manila- Taipei- Manila
• PR 300/301 Manila- Hong Kong- Manila
• PR 428/427  Manila-Tokyo (Narita)- Manila

March 25

• PR 468/469 Manila-Seoul (Incheon)-Manila

March 31

• PR 468/469 Manila-Seoul (Incheon)-Manila

PAL said it will be announcing additional flight cancellations once the details are confirmed.

Effective March 22 to April 21, the entry of foreign nationals into the Philippines shall be temporarily suspended, except for the following:

• All Filipino Citizens, whether Returning Overseas Filipinos (ROFs) and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)
• Diplomats and members of international organizations provided they hold a valid 9(e) visa or 47(a)(2) visa at the time of entry
• Foreign nationals involved in medical repatriation endorsed by the Department of Foreign Affairs - Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs or the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration provided they hold a valid visa at the time of entry
• Foreign seafarers under the Green Lanes program for crew change provided they hold a 9(c) crew list visa at the time of entry
• Foreign spouses and children of Filipino citizens traveling with them provided they have valid visas at the time of entry
• Emergency, humanitarian and other cases approved by the National Task Force on Covid-19 provided foreign nationals have valid visas at the time of entry.

If a traveler is covered by flight cancellations and/or travel restrictions within the stated period, PAL advised them to avail of the following options:

• unlimited rebooking (no rebooking fee) until December 31, 2021
• Convert ticket to a travel voucher with 10% bonus, which must be requested on or before June 30
• Refund ticket without penalties

“If you will be completing your travel by June 30, 2021 (or ticket validity, whichever comes first), there will be no fare difference charge,” PAL said. —LBG, GMA News