INBOUND international flights for overseas Filipinos have been allowed by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) but still covered by restrictions in compliance with government’s quarantine protocols to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
In an advisory, the CAAP said that from May 11 to June 10, incoming international chartered flights will be allowed to land at terminals 1 and 2 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) only on Monday and Thursdays. They should first secure clearances from the Department of Foreign Affairs and CAAP for slotting purposes.
Scheduled inbound international commercial flights, on the other hand, will be allowed to land at the two NAIA terminals on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Airlines should secure approval from the CAAP 48 hours before their scheduled departure from their airports of origin for slotting and rescheduling of flights to subscribe to the 400 passengers per day limited capacity of NAIA as imposed by the National Task Force on COVID-19.
Those who are allowed entry to the country are limited to returning overseas Filipino workers and residents, Philippine passport holders, foreign dignitaries and diplomats. Tourists and non-residents are still barred from entering the country.
The CAAP said the regulation applies to NAIA. Other international airports in the country which may want to adopt a similar imposition should get approval from the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).
It added emergency en route flights, ferry flights/cargo flights, air ambulance and medical supplies flights, government/military flights, weather mitigation flights, maintenance flights, and outbound ferry flights/cargo flights with passengers, as authorized, will remain unrestricted.
The CAAP also said domestic flights going to and coming from provinces and cities under general community quarantine (GCQ), subject to airport clearances and flight plan approvals and in line with IATF guidelines, are now allowed.
It said domestic flights should be from a GCQ area to another GCQ area. Take-off from a GCQ area for landing at an airport in an area under enhanced community quarantine, or vice versa, is not allowed.
The Philippine Airlines (PAL) said special flights between the United States and Manila will resume today, Monday. The first flight is from Los Angeles (LAX airport) and New York (JFK airport).
“We will be resuming the special flights between the US and Manila. We have two special passenger flights arriving May 11 — PR 5125 LAX — MNL, and PR 5127 JFK — MNL. From May 11 onwards, PAL will continue to mount special flights out of and into Manila,” said Cielo Villaluna, PAL spokesperson.
PAL cargo flights to and from the US and Asia — Pacific and domestic sweeper flights will also resume.
