PAL adjusts more flights during Papal visit

Philippine Airlines (PAL) is adjusting the departure and arrival of 120 domestic and international flights on January 15, 17 and 19, 2015 during the visit of Pope Francis.

In a statement issued to media, PAL said the departure and arrival times of these flights will either be advanced or delayed due to the temporary runway closure of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Jan. 15 (from 2-7 p.m.), Jan. 17 (from 7:45-8:45 a.m. and 5:45-6:45 p.m.), and Jan. 19 (from 6-10:30 a.m.).

Several roads leading to NAIA will also be closed at certain times of the day on these dates.

A total of 88 domestic and 32 international flights will be affected, in addition to 73 flights cancelled on Jan. 15 and 19.

On Jan. 15, the departure and arrival times of 17 domestic flights will be adjusted. These are selected flights going to Davao, Kalibo (2 flights), Iloilo and Naga (2 flights), and selected flights coming from Davao (2 flights), Kalibo (2 flights), Iloilo, Naga (2 flights), Bacolod and one Manila-Cebu-Manila flight.

When PAL flies the Pope to and from Tacloban on Jan. 17, the departure and arrival of 57 domestic flights will be adjusted, including those going to and coming from Kalibo, Dipolog, Legazpi, Cagayan de Oro, Tagbilaran, Iloilo, Dumaguete, Bacolod, Calbayog, Catarman, Puerto Princesa, Roxas, Caticlan, Laoag, Masbate, Zamboanga, Ozamiz and Cebu.

During departure ceremonies in the morning of Jan. 19, another 14 flight departures and arrivals will be revised. These are flights leaving for Basco, Davao, Dipolog, Tacloban, Cotabato, Dumaguete, Cagayan de Oro and Cebu, as well as those arriving from Davao, Dipolog, Tacloban, Masbate and Cebu (2 flights).

Meanwhile, 12 international flights on Jan. 15 will have new arrival timings, include those coming from London, Honolulu, Sydney, Busan, Narita, Beijing, Darwin, Singapore, Bangkok, Fukuoka, Macau and Hong Kong.

The adjusted international departures on Jan. 15 are those bound for Singapore, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Melbourne, San Francisco, Guam, Sydney and Hong Kong.

On Jan. 17, flights arriving from Fukuoka, Macau and Singapore will have new arrival timings.

For Jan. 19, a total of 9 international flights will be adjusted. Those arriving from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Guam, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong and Dubai as well as those departing for Hong Kong and Los Angeles will also have new arrival and departure timings.

PAL has also cancelled 73 domestic and international flights on Jan. 15 and 19.

For the complete list of affected flights, passengers may visit the PAL website (philippineairlines.com), or log on to the PAL FaceBook page, or call PAL Reservations (855-888) for rebooking or refund assistance or updates on the status of their flights.

Tickets may be rebooked for travel within 30 days from the original travel date without penalty, provided tickets are still valid. Tickets may be refunded without penalty. Rerouting will be allowed under certain conditions.

PAL also advised passengers to allot more time in going to the airport due to road closures and the anticipated traffic from well-wishers who will line up the streets around the airport.