Filipino expats wait for final word on resumption of flights
Travel ban is over, but airlines are yet to put out schedules
Airlines are yet to announce flight details on the UAE-Philippines sector despite the lifting of a travel ban that has now gone on for months before coming to an end yesterday.
“It (announcement of flight schedules) could happen any moment now,” said a spokesperson for Abu Dhabi-based Atlas Travel. “As of now, they are showing a schedule for ‘Bayanihan flights,’ but for commercial flights they haven’t opened the availability yet.”
The Philippines on Saturday said it was lifting a Covid-19 ban on travellers from 10 countries, including the UAE and Indonesia. The ban was introduced in April. “We are receiving a lot of enquiries — we had a five-month travel ban before, that’s why our kababayan are so eager to go back to the Philippines,” said a spokesperson for Pinoy Tourism and Travels.
Airlines are currently operating Bayanihan flights, which are special commercial flights approved by the Philippines government.
Under this arrangement, Etihad has Manila-bound flights scheduled on September 9, 11, 12, 16 and 18. The Abu Dhabi carrier is seen having daily flights in the last two weeks of the month.
Flight plans
Etihad did not immediately respond to a query on the airline’s flight plans in light of the latest announcement. Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Cebu
Pacific had previously said that regular commercial flights between Dubai and Manila would remain suspended in September as well. Special flights are on for now.
PAL last confirmed that Flight PR659 from Dubai to Manila will be deployed on September 2, 4, 6, 8, 14, 16, 18 and 22, while Cebu Pacific will operate Flight 5J15 from Dubai at 3am (UAE time) on September 4, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27 and 29. A spokesperson for Cebu said they were on standby and waiting for an official advisory from the low-cost airline.