Local airlines maintain flights to virus-hit South Korea
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Thu, 27 Feb 2020 13:48:37 +0000
FLAG carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Thursday said it still maintained the same number of regular flights to and from South Korea despite the two-way travel restrictions.
“We still maintain the same number of flight frequencies for now. Shall let you know should we cut back on flight frequencies. At the very least, we may downgrade from wide to narrow body aircraft,” PAL spokesman Cielo Villaluna said in a Viber message.
Villaluna said PAL operates 21 weekly flights between Philippines and South Korea.
“We have 14 weekly flights between Manila and Incheon and 7 weekly flights between Manila and Busan,” she added.
The travel ban applies to all passengers who have been to North Gyeongsang province, including Daegu City (regardless of nationality and regardless of date of travel from North Gyeongsang province).
The Philippine government has imposed restrictions to Filipinos travelling for tourism in South Korea.
Those employed in Korea, or holding a permanent resident visa in South Korea are exempted provided that they showed proof of identification or documentation.
Passengers transferring through Korea are also exempted from the ban. Foreign tourists are allowed to take Manila to Korea flights.
AirAsia Philippines has cancelled its flight Z2-884 to Incheon, according to a Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) travel advisory.
A text message from AirAsia spokesman Dave de Castro said “AirAsia flights to SK continue, following of course what are indicated in the travel ban. For now, we are reviewing our loads and coordinating with aviation authorities for more official guidelines.”
“Once okay, we will issue a travel advisory with possible cancelled flights,” de Castro added.
De Castro said the airline has no flights to Gyeongsang, but only to Busan and Incheon from Philippines.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminals will allow the entry into the country of all foreign nationals who came from South Korea but required to present certification issued by the South Korean government that they did not come from North Gyeongsang province.
The foreign traveller must have at least two copies of the certification (possibly a photocopy), one copy for airline concerned and one for the immigration officer to be presented upon arrival at the NAIA. BENJAMIN L. VERGARA