PAL urges ‘no facility quarantine protocol’ for fully vaccinated passengers from N. America

Philippine Airlines plane FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Philippine Airlines (PAL) is calling for the removal of quarantine stays in an accredited hotel or other designated facilities for fully vaccinated passengers arriving from North America.

Dexter Lee, PAL chief strategy and planning officer, said the flag carrier was working with Presidential Adviser Joey Concepcion and OCTA Research group on the proposal, adding this was now being evaluated by the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).

“Our suggestions have received positive feedback and [these are] now with the IATF technical working group for further deliberation,” Lee said in a statement on Thursday.

The proposed “no facility quarantine protocol” will cover returning Filipino tourists and those allowed to travel to the Philippines, such as current and former Filipino citizens and foreign spouses of Filipino nationals residing in North America, including Canada and the United States.

Currently, passengers arriving from North America are subjected to a minimum six-day facility-based quarantine, with RT-PCR testing conducted on the fifth day.

Passengers that test negative for COVID-19 will be allowed to continue the remainder of their 10-day quarantine at home.

According to local industry group, Air Carriers Association of the Philippines, restrictions such as facility-based quarantine remain a burden and deterrent to travel.

PAL, which was forced to file a Chapter 11 creditor protection plea in the US amid the pandemic-induced downturn, is seeking the removal of facility-based quarantines ahead of the busy Christmas travel season.

abc