CEB flight brings back 264 OFWS from ME

SOME 264 Filipinos from Dubai were flown home on board a Cebu Pacific (CEB) flight in response to the government’s call for assistance to repatriate workers in the Middle East (ME) while the travel ban is still in place.

Cebu Pacific flight 5J 27 landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila past 4 p.m. on Wednesday, August 4.

In command of the f light was Captain Mark Semon, assisted by First Officer Prince Michael Torres. A 10-person cabin crew was deployed to assist the overseas Filipino workers during the flight, led by Lead Cabin Crew Elphill Capili.

“We continue to collaborate with the government and other stakeholders so we may bring more Filipinos home to their families,” said Alex Reyes, chief strategy officer at Cebu Pacific. “We are grateful for the opportunity to mount more special commercial flights.”

Passengers on this flight will stay for 14 days in a pre-booked, accredited facility-based quarantine upon arrival. They will undergo RT-PCR test after seven days.

The cost of quarantine accommodation and testing for land-based overseas Filipino workers (OFWS) would be shouldered by Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OW WA), while the Philippine Ports Authority will cover the cost for seabased OFWS. NON-OFWS would have to pay for their own quarantine hotel and RT-PCR test.

The next Bayanihan flights are scheduled on august 11 and 18. all non ofw passengers booked on these flights will be notified through e-mail regarding specific quarantine facilities they can book from.

On Thursday, CEB will also fly home 400 Filipinos from Dubai direct to Davao via 5J 09 in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and the Philippine Consulate of Dubai.

CEB operates the widest domestic network in the Philippines covering 31 destinations on top of its eight international destinations. Its 74-strong fleet, one of the youngest in the world, includes two dedicated ATR freighters and an A330 freighter.