Airlines keep planes flying for essential cargo amid COVID-19 restrictions

Local carriers on Friday (March 20) said cargo operations from Manila will continue after passenger services were halted for the duration of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon against COVID-19.

PAL spokesman Cielo Villaluna said on a social media post that the airline continues to operate cargo-only flights between Manila and Cebu. She said cargo flights would next service the Manila-Davao route.

Charo Logarta Lagamon, Cebu Pacific director for communications, said in a text message that dedicated cargo services between Manila and Mindanao continue to operate.

Cargo services allow the transport of crucial supplies, like food and medical equipment, as healthcare frontliners battle the spread of COVID-19.

The Philippine government’s Inter Agency Task Force allows the operation of cargo-only flights.

PAL said Manila-Cebu air freight operations were in response to the cargo industry’s request for vital supplies, which included pharmaceutical products and medicines.

PAL operated a round trip cargo-only flight on March 19 to and from Mactan, Cebu.

Both flights carried more than 15 tons of essential cargo.

Edited by TSB