Local airlines on Friday announced the cancellation of all domestic flights to and from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport starting March 15 in compliance with the government’s directive imposing travel restrictions due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Philippine Airlines, Air Asia Philippines and Cebu Pacific called off all domestic flights to and from NAIA from March 15 to April 14.
The cancellation of flights aims to protect the public from COVID-19.
Clark International Airport, meanwhile, is ready and has the capacity for the expected influx of passengers.
Air Asia said flights not bound for Manila out of other hubs in the Philippines—Clark, Cebu and Kalibo—will continue their normal operations.
The budget airline is also offering passengers the option to make voluntary changes to their travel plans at no cost for domestic and international fights in the Philippines.
Air Asia said 102 domestic flights in and out of Manila in a day would be affected by the travel ban.
PAL also said its international flights and domestic flights on routes to and from Cebu, Clark and Davao (other than Manila) would continue to operate from March 15 to April 14.
PAL said 66 domestic flights were affected during the period.
“Our international flights from Manila shall continue to operate,” it added.
“This is a developing situation. We shall provide further updates. As of this time, we are awaiting the official guidelines in relation to the implementation of this temporary suspension of domestic flights to/from Manila,” PAL said.
PAL is also offering free rebooking for the affected flights or refund the full cost of the ticket with waivers of refund fees.