PAL suspends Manila domestic flights

Aviation Updates Philippines – In line with the reintroduction of the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) over Metro Manila, national flag carrier Philippine Airlines on Monday announced the cancellation of all domestic flights to and from Manila between August 4 and 18.

"All regular scheduled domestic flights to and from Manila (MNL) from  August 4 to 18, 2020 are canceled in line with the Philippine Government's classification of Metro Manila (the National Capital Region) as a Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) area for this 14-day period," PAL said in an advisory.

However, the airline stressed flights from its Cebu, Clark, and Davao hub are unaffected, given other cities are not under MECQ. 

From August 4 to 18, these are the only available domestic flights through Philippine Airlines:

• Clark-Davao-Clark (every Friday)
• Cebu-Tacloban-Cebu (every Thursday and Saturday)
• Cebu-Dumaguete-Cebu (every Monday and Thursday)
• Cebu-Cagayan de Oro-Cebu (every Wednesday and Sunday)
• Cebu-Davao-Cebu (every Tuesday)
• Cebu-Zamboanga-Cebu (every Monday and Friday)
• Davao-Zamboanga-Davao (every Thursday and Sunday)

Meanwhile, PAL's international flights will operate as scheduled: "International flights to and from Manila shall continue to operate, subject to further guidelines from the authorities in line with quarantine capacity and related arrangements."

Under the MECQ, no domestic flights will be allowed, while international flights will continue to operate but will be reduced. Due to these restrictions, Cebu Pacific and AirAsia Philippines has also announced the cancellation of its domestic flights during the 15-day period.

Photo from Cielo Villaluna, Philippine Airlines