Modified commercial flights to resume by Monday

The Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPIA) said Friday, June 12, that one of the three airlines that will conduct modified commercial flights at the facility has already submitted its schedule.

Ma. Lourdes Espartero, PPIA Acting Information Officer (AIO) told Palawan Daily News (PDN) Friday they are still waiting for the schedule of flights from Air Asia and Philippine Airlines as of the press time.

“Ang specific Cebu Pacific pa lang po ang nakakapag bigay sa amin. Sila po ang magfi-first flight sa Monday. Ang schedule ni Cebu Pac is Monday and Friday. Isang beses lang ‘yan. One airline per day, one flight per day, two airlines per week. One flight per day, pero two airlines per week,” said Espartero.

“Sa Air Asia and PAL hindi pa natin alam pero within 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. ‘yan ang dapat na maging schedule nila,” she added.

On the official Facebook page of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) for PPIA, they noted that flights of Cebu Pacific will be on Mondays and Fridays.

In an earlier interview, City Administrator and Legal Counsel Atty. Arnel Pedrosa said these flights will be strictly coordinated with city and provincial governments, to ensure that every passenger falls under one of the allowed categories namely returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs), locally stranded individuals (LSIs), Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APORs), and those the two local government units (LGUs) are going to officially invite.

Espartero stated there will be six days of continuous operations, being Tuesday as the tentative day without any flight.

Espartero said every requirement complied by the passengers during the past sweeper flights will be the same in these modified commercial flights.

She said it is necessary that the passengers coordinate with the LGUs, which are the City Government of Puerto Princesa (CGPP) and Palawan Provincial Government (PGP).

“Mas maganda kasi coordinated sa LGU since kukuha rin sila initially ng requirements ‘diba for travel then bago sila makaka-book sa airline. Kasi si airline ‘yon din ang hahanapin nilang requirements bago nila ibo-book ‘yong ticket nila. Bale ‘yong requirements ni IATF and LGUs ‘yon din ‘yong hahanapin sa kanila ng airline,” she said.

“Puwede na ‘yong outgoing kung merong magbo-book sa kanila na outgoing,” she added.

Espartero said the three airlines vowed that social distancing will be strictly followed during the flights.

She reiterated that while most of the aircrafts have maximum of 180 seating capacity, the airlines will only let passengers occupy a number of seats in line with strict observance of health safety protocols.

Espartero reminded the families of the passengers as well to limit only to one, the person who will fetch or accompany a traveler at the airport.

“Paalala ko lang ‘yong sa mga maghahatid at magsasalubong limited na tayo sa isa lang. Isa lang so definitely driver or kung mag-a-assist, ‘yong mag-a-assist sa loob binabawal na rin ‘yan sa pre-departure. Siguro check-in pero isa rin lang talaga,” said Espartero.