Several flights, port operations cancelled due to Typhoon Yolanda

(Updated 8:18 p.m.) Philippine Airlines (PAL), its unit PAL Express, and budget carriers Cebu Pacific, TigerAir Philippines, AirAsia Philippines and AirAsia Zest canceled on Thursday a number of domestic and international flights in anticipation of Typhoon Yolanda, which is expected to make landfall in the country early Friday morning.

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) also cancelled operations at several ports Thursday morning as part of the government’s efforts to minimize the impact of the super typhoon.

Philippine Airlines

In a statement on its Facebook page, PAL said that all flights to the following destinations on Friday are cancelled:

Tacloban, Calbayog, Catarman, Cebu, Tagbilaran, Dumaguete, Bacolod, Iloilo, Roxas, Kalibo, Caticlan, Masbate, Legaspi, Naga, Puerto Prinsesa, Busuanga, Butuan, Surigao, Cagayan de Oro, Ozamiz, Dipolog, Davao, General Santos, Zamboanga, Sanga-Sanga, and Jolo.

The following international flights are also cancelled:
PALEX flight 2P 875/876 Manila-Kuala Lumpur-Manila
PALEX flight 2P 800 Manila - Singapore
PAL PR 434/433 Cebu- Narita-Cebu

2P 801 Singapore-Manila on Nov. 9 is also cancelled.

PAL flights that will push through

PAL also listed the flights that will go ahead on Friday:

- All PAL international flights (except PR434/ 433 Cebu- Narita- Cebu)
- PR 2918/2919 Manila-Laoag-Manila
- 2P 084/ 085 Manila-Basco-Manila
- 2P 014/015 Manila-Tuguegarao-Manila
- 2P 658 Manila-Dubai

"PAL/PALex passengers with flights to typhoon-affected areas may rebook their flights within the next 30 days from the original flight date. Rebooking fees and fare difference are waived," the airline said.

Passengers are advised to call the PAL hotline at 855-8888 or PALex reservations at 855-9999. They may also log on to www.philippineairlines.com or www.flypalexpress.com.

Cebu Pacific

Cebu Pacific canceled six flights to Cebu, Surigao and Butuan and offered its passengers with international and local flights to select destinations in the Visayas and Mindanao the chance to rebook their flights free of charge within 30 days.

In a statement, the carrier said the following flights have been canceled:

5J 767/ 768 Manila-Surigao-Manila
5J 223/ 224 Cebu-Butuan-Cebu
5J 787/ 788 Manila-Butuan-Manila

Cebu Pacific also said passengers with domestic and international flights to or from the Visayas Region, Bicol Region, Palawan, Mindoro and select Mindanao destinations beginning Thursday (November 7) to Sunday (November 10, 2013) may choose to rebook their flights without charge, reroute to the nearest alternate airport, opt for full refund.

Guests can rebook flights to or from Cebu, Tacloban, Tagbilaran, Iloilo, Bacolod, Kalibo, Caticlan (Boracay), Roxas, Dumaguete, Legazpi, Naga, Virac, Puerto Princesa, Busuanga (Coron), San Jose, Siargao, Surigao, Pagadian, Butuan, Ozamiz, Cagayan de Oro and Dipolog.

Passengers may call (02) 7020-888 or (032) 230-8888 any time to pick the option suited for them.

TigerAir

Meanwhile, TigerAir Philippines suspended all of its domestic flights and its Kalibo-Singapore international flight on Friday, November 8, vice president for commercial Joey Laurente said in a separate statement.

However, Laurente said flights to Singapore, Hongkong, and Bangkok via Clark International Airport will push through.

Passengers of TigerAir may rebook without penalties for travel within 30 days from original flight and to call our hotline at 7984488 for further information.

AirAsia, AirAsia Zest

Philippines’ AirAsia and AirAsia Zest also cancelled 12 local flights on Friday. These are:

PQ 7489/7488 Manila - Cebu – Manila
Z2 272/273 Manila - Kalibo - Manila
Z2 713/714 Manila - Kalibo - Manila
Z2 354/355 Manila - Tagbilaran - Manila
Z2 352/353 Manila - Tagbilaran - Manila
Z2 350/351 Manila - Tagbilaran - Manila
Z2 310/311 Manila - Iloilo - Manila
Z2 384/385 Manila - Cebu - Manila
Z2 771/772 Manila - Cebu - Manila
Z2 330/331 Manila - Bacolod - Manila
Z2 348/349 Manila - Cagayan de Oro - Manila
Z2 340/341 Manila - Cagayan de Oro – Manila

"Guests whose flights are affected will be offered with...one-time free flight move within 14 days of the same route, subject to availability, Full Credit Shell  valid for 90 days or Full Refund," the AirAsia group said.

It added that guests may call their hotline: (02)7422742, Mondays – Sundays from 7:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines has yet to issue a statement.

Yolanda is expected to hit Eastern Visayas and some parts of northern Mindanao on Friday, according to various international weather forecasting centers.

The United States' Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) said the super typhoon may have near-center winds of 145 knots (268.54 kph) and gusts of up to 175 knots (324.1 kph).

Cancelled port operations

The PPA on Thursday morning suspended the operations indefinitely in 16 ports.
 
“No vessels at port, no cargo handling. Ro-Ro (Roll-on/roll-off ships) operations have been hold in abeyance starting today until typhoon Yolanda leaves,” the state-run agency announced.
 
The affected ports are Ormoc (Baseport), Baybay in Leyte, Palompon in Leyte, Naval in Biliran, Isabel in Leyte, Surigao, Lipata in Surigao, Batangas, Poctoy, Lucena, Tabaco, Masbate, Albay, Legazpi, Tagbilaran, and Dumaguete. — Xianne Arcangel, Danessa O. Rivera and Siegfrid O. Alegado/RSJ/BM, GMA News