Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is cutting down its international and domestic connectivity from regional airports as it looks to optimize services to minimize the impact of the Middle East conflict on its operations.

In an advisory on Thursday, March 26, PAL said it is implementing temporary schedule adjustments on flights from Cebu and Clark to adapt to changing conditions in the aviation industry.

The Lucio Tan-led airline will suspend five routes from the two airports “until further notice.”

“We understand that this may affect travel plans and sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. PAL is working to minimize disruption and will continue to review these routes as conditions improve,” it said.

Starting April 16, PAL will suspend its operations between Cebu and Guam.

Three days later, Cebu will also stop mounting flights to Ho Chi Minh City, except for select dates in May.

For domestic operations, PAL will suspend services between Clark and Siargao, considered the country’s surfing capital, starting May 4.

It will also stop operating the Cebu–Ozamiz route starting May 5, and the Cebu–Calbayog route the following day.

Passengers affected by these changes may avail themselves of free rebooking, convert their tickets into travel funds, or request a full refund.

With the temporary suspension of these five routes, PAL said it is working with logistics partners to explore alternative routing options for those affected by the suspension of cargo operations.

In making these adjustments, PAL said it took into consideration the overall impact of the Middle East conflict on its operations, not just the soaring prices of jet fuel.

“Flight adjustments are made after careful review of multiple factors affecting operations, including safety, regulatory conditions, and overall network sustainability. These decisions are not based on a single factor alone,” it said in a comment on its Facebook page.

PAL recently suspended flights to the Middle East to ensure the safety of its passengers, crew, and aircraft due to uncertainties in airspace corridors and airport operations.

Meanwhile, the airline said it has secured sufficient jet fuel supply to support scheduled operations, from domestic flights to long-haul routes.

PAL President Richard Nuttall said in an interview with CNBC that the airline has secured enough fuel to sustain operations until the end of June.

“Beyond that, we don’t have visibility,” he said. “And if the Gulf situation continues, I guess supply chains will have to find a new normal, and we yet to see what that is.”