Cebu Pacific cancels all flights to South Korea

MANILA, Philippines — Local airlines are canceling flights between the Philippines and South Korea starting today following restrictions issued by the government in connection with the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Budget carrier Cebu Pacific is canceling all its flights between the Philippines and South Korea beginning Tuesday, while flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) has started cutting back on the number of its flights today.

Cebu Pacific said it would be suspending Manila-Incheon-Manila, Cebu-Incheon-Cebu and Kalibo-Incheon-Kalibo flights from March 3 to April 30, 2020.

Cebu Pacific said passengers affected by flight cancellations could rebook their flights, refund the tickets in full or store the value of the ticket in a travel fund for future use.

Cebu Pacific has a total of 40 flights a week between the Philippines and South Korea.

These include 14 flights a week for the Manila-Incheon-Manila route, 14 flights for the Cebu-Incheon-Cebu and 12 flights for the Kalibo-Incheon-Kalibo route.

Meanwhile, PAL is canceling some of its flights to and from South Korea starting today up to March 31.

PAL said it is compelled to cut back on the number of flights it operates to and from South Korea this month due to the latest travel restrictions imposed by the government in the interest of public health and safety amidst the COVID-19 outbreak.

“We will retain a number of flights to/from Seoul and Busan to serve travelers not covered by the travel ban,” the airline said.

PAL originally operates 21 weekly flights between the Philippines and South Korea, including 14 weekly flights between Manila and Incheon and seven weekly flights between Manila and Busan.

The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) on Friday issued an advisory to airlines on the immediate implementation of the travel restrictions on South Korea.

CAB released the advisory on the basis of the Department of Health pronouncement as to its implementation being carried out by the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

The restrictions, which are currently being implemented by the BI, cover travel from the Philippines to South Korea and travel from North Gyeongsang province, South Korea including Daegu city and Cheongdo county, to the Philippines.

Permanent residents of South Korea, Filipinos leaving for study and OFWs returning for work will be allowed to travel to South Korea provided they sign a written declaration acknowledging the risks which will be complemented with a health advisory.

Filipinos and their foreign spouses or children, and holders of permanent resident and diplomatic visas traveling from South Korea, will be allowed entry to the Philippines subject to screening and quarantine protocols.

The BI officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminals are asking every incoming South Korean passenger to present identification card such as South Korean national ID, family register or even driver’s license that they are not from North Gyeongsang province, Daegu and Cheongdo or even visited the places before they are allowed entry.

An immigration supervisor at NAIA Terminal 2 said that they are asking incoming South Korean passengers to present any valid identification as proof they are not from the said provinces to protect our country from spreading that virus.

Noe Revilla, animal quarantine officer-in-charge at NAIA terminal 1, said they are strictly monitoring the arrival of pets, mostly dogs, from different parts of the world, especially in the COVID-19 affected countries.

Revilla said that his office requires the pet owners to present a veterinary health certificate, import permit and documents that the pets are vaccinated against rabies upon arrival at the airport.

He also said that a South Korean passenger yesterday brought with him two dogs, a Chihuahua and a Bichon Friese, on a flight from Incheon on board Korean Air. 

The dogs underwent thorough inspection after the owner presented veterinary health certificates and import permits. The dogs were in healthy condition and were allowed entry. 

Revilla also said that pets will be refused entry and returned to the port of origin if the pet owner cannot present the complete documents. -With Rudy Santos