PAL cancels dozens of flights to comply with NTF passenger arrival cap


Flag-carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) has announced the cancelation of at least 45 flights in efforts to comply with the new National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 to limit the number of Filipino passenger arrivals in the country.

(JANSEN ROMERO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)

Information coming from PAL Spokesperson Cielo Villaluna shows that the flight cancellations cover the dates Friday, March 19 to Tuesday, March 23. The following is a rundown of the dates and the canceled flights:

March 19: PR 117 Vancouver-Manila, PR 507/508 Manila-Singapore-Manila, PR 100/101 Manila-Honolulu-Manila, PR 102/103 Manila-Los Angeles-Manila, PR 126 Manila-New York, PR 300/301 Manila-Hong Kong-Manila, PR 427/428 Manila-Tokyo (Narita)-Manila, PR 425/426 Manila-Fukuoka-Manila, and PR 411/412 Manila-Osaka (Kansai)-Manila.

March 20: PR 127 New York-Manila, PR 5682/5683 Manila-Dammam-Manila, and PR 104/105 Manila-San Francisco-Manila.

March 21: PR 102/103 Manila- Los Angeles - Manila, PR 427/428 Manila-Tokyo (Narita)-Manila, PR 535 Manila-Jakarta, and PR 110 Manila-Guam.

March 22: PR 536 Jakarta-Manila, PR 111 Guam-Manila, PR 421/422 Manila-Tokyo (Haneda)-Manila, PR 437/438 Manila-Nagoya-Manila, and PR 5682/5683 Manila – Dammam - Manila.

March 23: PR 507/508 Manila-Singapore-Manila, PR 412/411 Manila-Osaka Kansai-Manila, PR 890/891 Manila- Taipei- Manila, PR 300/301 Manila- Hong Kong- Manila, and PR 428/427 Manila-Tokyo (Narita)- Manila.

The NTF has imposed a 1,500-cap on Filipino passenger arrivals as a way to prevent the entry of more coronavirus disease (COVID-19) variants in the country. The cap took effect 8 a.m. of March 18 and will last up to 8 a.m. of April 19. 

"Philippine Airlines will be announcing additional flight cancellations for the remainder of the stated period once the details are confirmed," Villaluna said.