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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PAL, Cebu Pacific cancel flights due to Middle East situation

PAL, Cebu Pacific cancel flights due to Middle East situation

Published Mar 1, 2026 11:28 am  |  Updated Mar 1, 2026 02:09 pm
Philippine Airlines (PAL) continues to closely monitor the evolving security situation in the Middle East following recent developments in the region.The safety and security of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority. In light of operational restrictions in certain Middle East stations, PAL said in a statement.
It has implemented the following adjustments:Flight Diversions (Return to Origin):PR654 (Manila – Riyadh), which departed Manila on Saturday, February 28, 2026, will return to Manila and arrive 1040pm local time.PR658 (Manila – Dubai), which also departed Manila on Saturday, February 28, 2026, will return to Manila and arrive 952pm local time.Cancelled Flights: The following flights were cancelled due to restrictions in flight operations in the concerned Middle East stationsFebruary 28, 2026PR684 (Manila – Doha)PR655 (Riyadh – Manila)PR659 (Dubai – Manila)March 1, 2026PR685 (Doha -Manila). PAL said it was actively coordinating with aviation authorities, airport operators, and relevant government agencies regarding airspace and operational advisories.
"We are assisting affected passengers with rebooking, rerouting, or refunds in accordance with PAL policies. Passengers are advised to check the status of their flights through the PAL website, mobile app, or official social media channels before proceeding to the airport," the airline said in a statement. "PAL emphasizes that we will not compromise on safety. All operational decisions are guided by authoritative risk assessments and civil aviation safety protocols," it added. "We appreciate the understanding and patience of our passengers affected by this developing situation."For further assistance, passengers may visit www.philippineairlines.com for real-time updates on their flights or contact PAL Customer Support.Meanwhile, Cebu Pacific (CEB) said it was also closely monitoring developments related to the ongoing security situation in parts of the Middle East.
To ensure the safety and well-being of our passengers and crew, Flight 5J 14, which departed for Dubai on Feb. 28, will return to Manila, and is estimated to arrive at 10:45 p.m. Consequently, its return service, Flight 5J 15, has been cancelled.
Flights 5J 14/15 Manila-Dubai-Manila scheduled for March 1 are also cancelled.Affected passengers have been informed via email and provided with the following options through the Manage Booking portal on the CEB website https://www.cebupacificair.com/manage-booking:1. Free RebookingRebook without fare difference for travel up to thirty (30) days from original flight date. The fare difference will apply if the travel period is beyond thirty (30) days from the original flight date.2. Travel Fund Store the amount in a virtual CEB wallet and use this to either book a new flight or pay for add-ons (example: baggage allowance, seat selection, etc.) 3. Refund A full refund of your ticket.CEB is also offering flexible options, including free rebooking and Travel Fund conversion, to passengers who wish to postpone their flights to and from the following destinations:Dubai – March 2Riyadh – March 1 and 2They may avail themselves of these options through the Manage Booking portal of the CEB website https://www.cebupacificair.com/manage-booking up to two (2) hours before their scheduled time of departure.We will continue to review flight operations to and from the Middle East in the coming days.
As this is a developing situation, CEB also said some flight changes may take place in the next few days. We encourage passengers to regularly check their flight status at cebupacificair.com/flight-status and to update their contact details via the Manage Booking portal to receive timely flight notifications.We thank our passengers for their patience and understanding.
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