Local carriers to resume commercial flights June 1

MANILA -- After two months of temporarily halting international and domestic operations, local carriers Philippine Airlines (PAL) and AirAsia Philippines on Friday announced resumption of flight operations on June 1.

This comes after President Rodrigo Duterte eases lockdown, putting the National Capital

Region (NCR) under general community quarantine (GCQ).

Davao City, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Pangasinan, Albay will also be under GCQ, while a modified GCQ would be implemented in the rest of the country.

PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said the carrier would finalize routes and flight schedules, as it coordinates with local and national authorities regarding rules and arrangements.

AirAsia Philippines, on the other hand, would likewise coordinate with aviation authorities and local government units to seek guidelines on the opening of domestic airports.

In an advisory, AirAsia Philippines announced its plan to gradually resume commercial operations by June 1.

The government announced it would allow domestic flights between areas under GCQ. It also eyes to expand operations in international gateways such as Clark, Cebu, and Davao.

A “new normal” is expected once flight operations resume. Among these include wearing of face mask when entering the airport facility; undergoing mandatory body temperature check before entering the airport complex; and strict observance of safe physical distancing measures.

Airlines would also require passengers to wear a face mask even when inside the aircraft.