PAL re-routes int'l flights to Cebu amid NAIA's 1,500 passenger limit

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines on Saturday announced that it will be diverting flights from Dammam, Saudi Arabia and Doha, Qatar to Cebu due to the 1,500 international passenger arrivals cap at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

In an advisory, PAL told passengers from Dammam and Doha scheduled on March 26 that their flights will be re-routed to land at the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) instead of NAIA, “because of quarantine capacity limitations at the Manila airport.”

“The re-routing to Cebu is necessary to avoid a full cancellation of your flight,” PAL added.

PAL provided the following flight re-routing details:

• PR 5687 on March 26 will depart from Dammam at 04:40 p.m. and arrive in Cebu at 07:30 a.m. on March 27
• PR 685 on March 26 will depart from Doha at 08:00 p.m. and arrive in Cebu at 11:00 a.m. on March 27

“You will undergo a facility-based quarantine while waiting for your RT-PCR test administered on day six. Day one starts on the day of your arrival,” PAL noted.

Affected passengers were told to register through the online MCIA passenger arrival registration form in this link: https://mactancebuairport.com/covid-19-registration.

It said that all arriving international flight passengers are required to register not earlier than five days prior to departure.

“A Travel Registration Number (TRN) will be generated once registration is complete,” PAL said.

Non-OFWs and eligible non-Filipinos are advised to make sure they have a confirmed booking at a hotel accredited by tourism and health agencies and for at least six nights.

“Passengers arriving before hotel standard check-in times are encouraged to book an additional night to ensure room availability,” it said.

Non-OFWs and eligible non-Filipinos will also pay for their RT-PCR Test in advance or upon arrival, which costs P4,100.

PAL added that OFWs’ accommodation and food will be shouldered by the Philippine government for the duration of their six-day quarantine, while non-OFWs will have to shoulder their own expenses.

“Because of an additional domestic flight from Cebu, an airport terminal fee (or Passenger Service Charge / PSC) amounting to P345.00 will be collected from you in Mactan Cebu Airport upon check-in,” PAL added. 

It noted that this is a fee charged by the Philippine Government or Philippine airport authorities for the use of airport terminal facilities.

“The PSC is then remitted to the government or airport authorities upon the passengers’ flight departure from the airport. To avoid inconvenience, please prepare the PSC in Philippine peso currency prior to check-in in Cebu,” PAL said. —LBG, GMA News