The State of Hawaii has accredited Philippine Airlines (PAL) as a Trusted Testing and Travel Partner under its Safe Travel quarantine reduction program, the first Asian carrier under its list.
This means that Hawaii-bound travelers flying on PAL are now exempted from arrival quarantine requirements if they avail of RT-PCR tests from PAL's test centers or Trusted Testing Partners.
PAL passengers who present negative RT-PCR test results prior to departure shall no longer be required to undergo the mandatory 10-day quarantine upon arrival in Hawaii.
The first eligible flight for quarantine-free travel is on July 30.
PAL flies once weekly nonstop from Manila to Honolulu every Friday, with code share service beyond Honolulu to Maui, Hilo, Kona and Lihue in partnership with Hawaiian Airlines.
'We are delighted to announce that we are expanding our Safe Travels pre-travel testing program to include travelers from the Philippines ... and we appreciate our partners who are helping families reconnect,” Hawaii Governor David Ige announced.
"This is a great convenience for our passengers traveling to Honolulu, who need not undergo the 10-day quarantine upon arrival if they secure negative RT-PCT tests from our PAL testing partners in the Philippines," says Dexter C. Lee, PAL Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy & Planning Officer.
For convenience, passengers may avail of the RT-PCR test at PAL’s own COVID-19 testing centers in partnership with Detoxicare Diagnostics Molecular Laboratory which is accredited by the Philippine Department of Health.
The testing centers are located at the PAL Learning Center (PLC) in Padre Faura, Manila; and at PAL Gate 3, Andrews Avenue, Pasay City. Results are released within 24 hours.
Other PAL testing partners approved as Trusted Testing Partners by the Hawaiian Government are the following:
- Detoxicare Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila
- Safeguard DNA Diagnostic, Inc., Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila
- Cardinal Santos Medical Center, San Juan City, Metro Manila
- Bacolod Queen of Mercy Hospital, Bacolod City
St. Elizabeth Hospital Inc., General Santos City
As a Trusted Parter, PAL is required to report to Hawaiian authorities the status of each arriving traveler, to ensure that requirements are complete and that all passengers are assisted when they arrive in Hawaii.
However, if a passenger presents test results from a medical provider that is not a Safe Travel accredited lab, the mandatory 10-day quarantine shall be imposed upon arrival in Hawaii.
At PAL Learning Center (PLC), RT-PCR and Antigen testing is available via drive-thru or walk-in and is open daily (Monday-Sunday, including holidays) from 8AM to 8PM.
At PAL Gate 3, RT-PCR and Antigen testing is available via drive-thru or walk-in and is open daily (Monday-Sunday, including holidays) from 12:00 NN – 08:00 AM the next day.
Passengers must register at the PAL Passenger Profile and Health Declaration form as early as 5 days before their flights, at https://bit.ly/PALIntPPHD.
In compliance with the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Government of Hawaii, all passengers must:
- Present proof of a NEGATIVE Covid-19 RT-PCR or Antigen Swab test result taken within the last 72 hours prior to departure; or documentation of recovery from a previous COVID-19 infection in the form of a positive viral test taken within 3 months prior to flight departure, along with a letter from a licensed health care provider or a public health official showing stating that the passenger has been cleared for travel (Document of Recovery).
- Submit an Attestation to the CDC of having received a negative Qualifying Test result or a Documentation of Recovery from previous COVID-19 infection and clearance to travel;
- Undergo quarantine upon arrival in Hawaii, unless they avail of the testing services of PAL’s Trusted Testing partners and receive negative RT-PCT test results.
- Provide their health and travel information to the Stare of Hawaii Safe Travels program website, https://travel.hawaii.gov/#/. Passengers will receive a QR Code and must keep this along with the other requirements in preparation for the secondary screening upon arrival in Hawaii.