Philippine carriers to resume commercial passenger flights
PHILIPPINE carriers will resume commercial passenger flights next week as the government further eased coronavirus restrictions across the country, officials said Saturday.
Preparations were underway at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for the resumption of domestic and international flights from Manila to other parts of the country, said Ed Monreal, the facility’s general manager.
“Domestic carriers have already expressed their intention to operate beginning June 1,” he said, referring to the date when the capital and most of the country are put under the more relaxed “general community quarantine.”
Philippine Airlines said it was mounting reduced domestic flights and limited international flights from June 1, but hopes to increase the number in the coming months “if allowed by aviation authorities, global public health conditions and the travel environment.”
The flag carrier reminded all passengers “to bring (their) own face masks or facial coverings, as (they) are now required to wear face masks at all times at the airport and also throughout your flight.”
Cebu Pacific Air, the country’s largest budget airline, said it was resuming domestic flights on June 2, but all international flights remain suspended until June 30.
“Leisure travel is not allowed, as per government guidelines,” the company said in an advisory.
“Guests must check guidelines from the (government’s task force on the coronavirus), and with the local governments of their origin and destination for the required documents,” it added. While all foreigners can leave the Philippines any time, no Filipino tourists are allowed to travel abroad and foreign visitors are still not allowed to enter the country, the Bureau of Immigration said.
There are a total of 1 ,224 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines, including 950 deaths, as of Saturday, the Department of Health said.
The department reported the highest number of cases in a day on Friday at 1,046 infections, but noted that 1,000 of them were old cases that were only now added to the tally after being validated. On Saturday, there were 590 new infections and eight additional deaths, it said.