Philippine domestic and international travel is gradually returning to normal after local carriers complied with a mandatory software update for affected Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) issued guidance to travelers to mitigate flight disruptions arising from the Airbus technical advisory.
The country’s major airlines—Philippine Airlines (PAL), Cebu Pacific (CEB) and AirAsia Philippines—have all confirmed their compliance with the required updates and are working to normalize flight schedules.
PAL confirmed that all its aircraft covered by the recent Airbus and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) directive on the mandatory Elevator and Aileron Computer (ELAC) software update have successfully completed the upgrade. PAL technical and engineering teams worked swiftly to ensure full compliance within the prescribed timeframe.
Cebu Pacific announced Saturday evening that it was nearing completion of the mandatory software update and that its operations were gradually returning to normal.
To minimize impact on passengers, CEB said it implemented several measures including upgrading select flights to larger aircraft mounting additional flight sections where possible and optimizing its network to support affected routes. CEB cancelled several flights scheduled on Nov. 29, 2025. Affected passengers were informed via email and offered free rebooking travel refund or a full refund of the ticket.
AirAsia Philippines also announced its compliance with the EASA Airworthiness Directive requiring Airbus A320 aircraft to undergo a software rollback. AirAsia Philippines notified its passengers on November 29 2025 via email and SMS on the flight schedule adjustments.
The DOT advised domestic and international tourists to take necessary precautions and stay updated on the evolving situation. In close coordination with concerned government agencies airport authorities and the tourism sector the DOT issued travel advisory.
It encouraged tourists to monitor the official websites mobile apps and customer service channels of their respective airlines for verified updates on flight statuses rebooking procedures and rerouting options. Travelers are advised to avoid relying on unverified social media posts.
Travelers should allot sufficient lead time by arriving at least four hours before international flights or three hours before domestic departures, unless advised otherwise by their airline, it said.
