PAL says flights now 40 percent of pre-COVID level

MANILA, Philippines—Philippine Airlines (PAL) said its flights were now at 40 percent of prepandemic operations as the flag carrier prepares to ramp up trips and meet any expected increase in demand.

“As we anticipate a surge in travel demand with the gradually improving health situation in the country, we continue to build up our flight route network and work closely with government to further ease travel restrictions without sarificing passenger safety,” PAL said in a statement on Tuesday (Nov 16).

PAL had resumed regular weekly flights to Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Honolulu, Guam, Toronto, Vancouver, London, Singapore, Bangkok, Jakarta, Pnom Penh.

These locations are open for leisure travel, subject to health requirements.

PAL also has flights to Auckland, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Kuala Lumpur, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Seoul, Tokyo, Fukuoka, Osaka, Nagoya, Hong Kong, Taipei, Dubai, Dammam, and Riyadh, Doha.

Passengers were advised to regularly check the website of their country-of-destination or the PAL website www.philippineairlines.com for updates on travel requirements as these are periodically adjusted.

Under the new United Stated Center for Disease Control policy, US citizens and US lawful permanent residents (LPR) who are unable to show they are fully vaccinated will have to provide documentation of a negative PCR test taken no more than one day before departure for the US.

Fully vaccinated US citizens and residents must provide documentation of a negative viral test taken up to three days prior to departure for the US.  They also must present proof of vaccination to qualify for the three-day test window.

For domestic operations, PAL has regular flights from Manila to Laoag, Legazpi, Puerto Princesa, Busuanga (Coron)-Manila, Bacolod, Cebu, Catarman, Calbayog, Dumaguete, Antique (San Jose), Iloilo, Kalibo, Caticlan (Boracay), Roxas, Tacloban, Tagbilaran (Panglao), Butuan, Cotabato, Cagayan de Oro, Dipolog, Davao, General Santos, Siargao, Ozamiz, Pagadian, Zamboanga

From Cebu, PAL flies to Bacolod, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Caticlan (Boracay), Clark, Davao, Siargao, Tacloban-Cebu and Zamboanga. From Zamboanga, there are flights to Tawi-Tawi.

PAL added that local government units and gateways that accept vaccination cards were Bacolod, Butuan,  Cagayan de Oro, Catarman, Cebu City, Lapu Lapu City, Cebu Province, Clark,Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Pagadian, Roxas, Tacloban, and Tagbilaran.

TSB