PAL cancels certain flights at NAIA effective Sept. 1

Philippine Airlines. FILE PHOTO

MANILA — Philippine Airlines is reorganizing some of its domestic flights operating out of Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport, ahead of plans to make its debut in Clark International Airport in Pampanga province.

Moving some operations to Clark, Manila’s nearest alternative air gateway, comes amid the Department of Transportation’s call to decongest air traffic in NAIA.

In a statement, PAL has announced that 29 local flights operating out of Manila will be cancelled effective Sept. 1, 2016. Those cancelled flights covered routes from Manila to Caticlan, Cebu, Calbayog, Kalibo, Laoag, Legaspi, Tablas, and Tuguegarao.  (A complete list of the flights can be found here).

“These moves are being carried out in support of the government’s thrust to decongest Ninoy Aquino International Airport,” PAL said in its statement.

In the same statement, PAL said it would “soon operate new flights out of Clark International Airport.” It did not say which specific flights would be launched in Clark, where budget airline Cebu Pacific already operates.

However, a source with knowledge of the matter said PAL would launch its Clark operations by next month.

Relating to the cancelled Manila flights, the carrier said passengers might opt to rebook within 30 days from their original flight date.

They also have the option to reroute their flight to the nearest destination of their choice subject only to any applicable fare conditions or to request for a full refund of the ticket within 30 days from their original flight date.

PAL has waived rebooking, change and refund fees/charges of these affected flights, the statement showed.
SFM/rga