Cebu Pacific resumes limited flights to Dubai

Aviation Updates Philippines – Low-cost carrier, Cebu Pacific Air, plans to resume limited air services between the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates after suspending all international flights for over three months due to COVID-19.

Based on Cebu Pacific's July 10 advisory, the airline would restart flights from Manila to Dubai beginning July 12, 2020. On-board the Airbus A330 aircraft, 5J-18 departs from Manila at 6:55 pm (Manila time) while 5J-19 departs from Dubai at 3:30 am (Dubai time) the next day.

The Manila-Dubai flight only flies once-a-week every Sunday while the Dubai-Manila return flight flies every Monday.

The airline said passengers flying to Dubai are required "to obtain travel and health insurance coverage before arrival, as required by the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority." Guests without valid health insurance would be denied check-in or boarding.

On the other hand, passengers flying to the Philippines are covered by the government's quarantine and travel regulations. There would also be varying requirements per province for those connecting locally beyond Manila.

As previously reported, all Cebu Pacific international flights until July 31, 2020, remain cancelled, except for the Dubai flights. For the domestic sector, however, the airline plans to resume operations in Marinduque, Butuan, Kalibo, Bacolod, Virac, and Tacloban next week.

Photo from Dirk Salcedo, AUP