AirAsia Philippines, Cebu Pacific, Cebgo and Philippine Airlines have cancelled all domestic and international flights from May 16 to 31, 2020 following the government’s announcement that Metro Manila, Cebu City and Laguna will be placed under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) over the same period.
PAL, however, said it was working on plans to fly some domestic routes from its Davao hub, possibly to Iloilo, Siargao and General Santos.
It also plans to operate a reduced number of weekly flights on most domestic routes and on selected international routes by June 1, 2020 but this will depend on COVID-19 conditions:Â community quarantine restrictions, travel bans imposed by various governments and their impact on passenger demand, and public health and safety situation in each of the countries that PAL serves.
Cebu Pacific and Cebgo said affected passengers can either avail of free rebooking or full travel refund.
Passengers with booked flights from June 1 to September 30 who wish to change their travel plans have the following options: rebook to any other travel date within one year; or place the full cost of the ticket in a travel fund valid for one year.
The Philippine government has placed Metro Manila, Laguna, and Cebu City under MECQ from May 16 to 31 while other provinces and cities were either placed under general community quarantine or no community quarantine.
Some local executives of no quarantine areas have appealed to return their areas to general community quarantine as they are not yet ready to lift restrictions for fear of a another wave of infections. The government is set to approve this request.
Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has also re-opened for inbound international flights starting May 11 but Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Ed Monreal said only 400 passengers a day will be allowed, and the priority are overseas Filipino workers and overseas Filipinos. Cargo flights and sweeper flights for stranded foreign nationals remain in operation.
Meanwhile, the government is implementing stricter quarantine and testing procedures for all arriving passengers under a new directive from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Upon arrival, all passengers will undergo a swab test (RT PCR Covid 19 testing) to be performed by trained personnel from the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ).
While awaiting test results, passengers must stay either in a government-designated stringent quarantine facility or in a BOQ-approved quarantine hotel.
Payment for accommodation in a government-designated quarantine facility should be based on the following guidelines:
- For land-based OFWs, the cost will be shouldered by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration;
- For sea-based OFWs, cost will be shouldered by the Maritime Industry Authority or by the local manning agency;
- All other travelers (Filipino or foreign nationals), who are non-OFWs, will pay for the cost of their accommodation.
Accommodation in a BOQ-approved quarantine hotel will be to passengers’ own cost, regardless if they are OFWs or not.
Travelers whose test results are positive will be transferred to a designated hospital for further medical management.
Travelers whose test results are negative will be allowed to move out and undergo a 14-day quarantine at home or at an appropriate local monitoring facility.
