HK bans PAL passenger flights over COVID, cargo flights not affected

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  • Hong Kong has banned passenger flights of Philippine Airlines from Manila for two weeks until September 11
  • PAL passenger flights from Hong Kong to Manila will continue to operate as scheduled every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
  • All cargo flights will remain operational
  • The ban follows confirmation that three passengers from a PAL flight that arrived in Hong Kong tested positive for COVID-19

Hong Kong has banned passenger flights from Manila of Philippine Airlines (PAL) for two weeks until September 11. All cargo flights will remain operational.

The Centre for Health Protection of the Hong Kong Department of Health in a statement said the ban on PAL passenger flights from Manila follows the confirmation that three passengers from a PAL flight that arrived in Hong Kong on August 27 were COVID-19 positive upon testing.

PAL in a statement said the three passengers—two Filipinos and a Chinese national—presented negative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test results before leaving Manila.

PAL passenger flights from Hong Kong to Manila will continue to operate as scheduled
every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

“We reiterate that the top priority of Philippine Airlines has always been the safety and health of our passengers,” PAL said.

“We consistently comply with industry and regulatory safety protocols in the Philippines and abroad,” it added.

The flag carrier noted its “advanced cabin air flow systems ensure a protective air flow inflight, and each plane has onboard HEPA [high-efficiency particulate air] filters to cleanse cabin air from bacteria and viruses.”

PAL’s cabin crew who serve and assist wear full personal protective equipment as well as face masks and shields. Every aircraft surface is also sanitized and disinfected after every flight.

Passengers affected by the ban may rebook, refund or convert their tickets into a travel voucher. Rebooking and refund service fees are waived.

Aside from PAL, flights of Turkey’s flag carrier Turkish Airlines were also banned for two weeks after three of its passengers in an August 27 flight also tested positive for COVID-19.

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