Cebu Pacific suspends all flights between Philippines and China

Cebu Pacific on Sunday announced the cancellation of all flights between the Philippines and Hong Kong and Macau in light of the government's efforts to manage the risk of the 2019 novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD).

In an advisory, Cebu Pacific said it will cancel all flights between the country and China's special administrative regions Hong Kong and Macau effective immediately until February 29.

Meanwhile, all other flights from mainland China (Beijing, Shanghai, Xiamen, Guangzhou, Shenzhen) remain cancelled until March 29.

Moreover, all foreign nationals (except those with valid permanent resident visas to the Philippines) who have visited China, Hong Kong and Macau 14 days before traveling to the country will not be allowed to check in for their flight.

The following options are made available for affected passengers:

1. Rebook the flight (new flight date within 30 days of original travel date)
2. Refund the tickets in full
3. Store the value of the ticket in a Travel Fund for future use

Meanwhile, all Filipinos arriving from international flights who have been to China, Hong Kong and Macao in the last 14 days prior to arrival in the Philippines will be required to undergo a home quarantine process by the Bureau of Quarantine upon arrival.

AirAsia Philippines has also suspended all of its China-Philippines flights.

In a statement on Sunday evening, Philippine Airlines also announced the cancellation of its flights to and from China.

Earlier, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III confirmed the second 2019-nCoV ARD case and first death from the illness in the country. The death is also the first one outside China.

It brings the death toll from the virus to 305. The other 304 deaths have been in China. — Ma. Angelica Garcia/BM, GMA News