Foreigners have until Friday to leave or be stuck

MANILA, Philippines — All commercial flights to and from any airport in Luzon will be suspended starting March 20 as part of the enhanced community quarantine being implemented to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019.

Transportation Undersecretary Raul del Rosario said there will be no more inbound and outbound commercial flights in Luzon once the 72-hour allowable travel period, which commenced on March 17, expires.

“What we are allowing now to leave the country are the international flights that would fly the stranded tourists and other foreigners here in the country. Once the 72-hour extension expires, they will stay here, they have no more option because all flights will be cancelled, domestic and international,” Del Rosario said.

The announcement sent hundreds of foreigners rushing to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to catch a flight home.

There are 342 international flights and 452 domestic flights operating every day at NAIA terminals based on records available in February.

Under the guidelines for the imposition of an enhanced community quarantine and the stringent social distancing measures over the entire Luzon, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) aviation sector is letting foreigners depart from the Philippines within 72 hours upon the effectivity of the enhanced community quarantine.

Airport operation is limited to outgoing flights carrying foreigners and tourists, while Filipinos are not allowed to go outside the country. The DOTr said inbound flights will only be for repatriating Filipinos.

The Department of Tourism, with the combined efforts of the private and public sectors, has assisted around 2,500 passengers in terms of recovery flights and transport, since the community quarantine took effect March 15.

In a statement, DOT said it is assisting both international and domestic tourists whose flights were affected by the community quarantine impositions across the country. 

Meanwhile, air as well as land and sea travel of uniformed personnel for official business, especially those transporting medical supplies, laboratory specimens related to COVID-19 and other humanitarian assistance will be allowed.

In compliance with the government’s enhanced community quarantine measure in Luzon, flag carrier Philippine Airlines has cancelled all of its domestic flights until April 12. PAL said domestic flights will resume on April 13.

The airline said it would continue to operate its international flights up to 11:59 p.m. of March 19, and will announce later the status of its international flights from March 20 up to April 12 as it is still coordinating with government authorities on relevant implementing details. 

PAL, however, said it would comply with the travel restrictions set out in the quarantine rules.

Budget carrier Cebu Pacific on Monday also announced the cancellation of all its domestic flights from March 20 to April 14. – Rudy Santos, Catherine Talavera

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