Hundreds of flights from China canceled due to nCoV alert

More than 700 flights from China have been canceled in the Philippines following the announcement of the first novel coronavirus case in the country.

According to Ivan Mayrina's Friday report on 24 Oras, data from the Civil Aeronautics Board showed that 742 scheduled flights and 351 chartered flights have been canceled due to the virus.

The figure is expected to increase due to a ban on visitors from Hubei province and other affected areas in China, the CAB said. 

"Everything is possible according to the Palace, kasi nga the situation is very fluid," CAB Executive Director Atty. Carmelo Arcilla said.

"Two days ago meron isang flight from China na pumasok sa Kalibo, dalawa lang yung pasahero... Two passengers in one Airbus-320," Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines spokesman Eric Apolonio said.

Local carriers Cebu Pacific and Phillippine Airlines have also announced the cancellation of some of their flights.

According to the report, PAL will cancel more than half of its flights to and from China starting on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the airplane which was used by the first confirmed nCoV case in the country has been examined and disinfected.

Cebu Pacific, on the other hand, said that the plane used by the case is unused while crew members who came in contact with the confirmed case has been quarantined.

According to the report, Cebu Pacific has said that rebooking is free while refunding for the ticket is possible.

The Philippines on Thursday confirmed its first nCoV case. The 38-year-old Chinese woman is now confined at the San Lazaro Hospital. —Joana Lei Casilao/NB, GMA News