With just one more day to go until Pope Francis touches down at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the nation's air carriers are taking extra precaution to ensure that travellers are prepared for upcoming flight delays and cancellations. Travellers should allow additional time to get to the airport as travel disruptions are expected with pending road closures and heavy traffic during Pope Francis' first visit to the Philippines.
Air Asia, Tigerair Philippines, Cebu Pacific, and Philippine Airlines have all announced a series of flight cancellations during the Pope's visit to the Philippines from January 15 to 19. In addition, road closures will isolate Terminal 3 and Terminal 4, altering traffic patterns and delaying passengers.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines has announced that Ninoy Aquino International Airport will be functioning under "limited operations" from 2:00pm to 7:00pm on January 15 and from 7:45am to 8:45am and 5:45pm to 6:45pm on January 17, and from 6:00am to 10:30am on January 19. Meanwhile, commercial airline operations at Tacloban Airport will be suspended completely on January 17.
Philippine Airlines is expected to cancel up to 71 flights on January 15 and January 19 in an effort to help facilitate the arrival and departure ceremonies of Pope Francis at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila.
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| Copyright Photo: Angelo Agcamaran/PPSG |
According to a statement released by Philippine Airlines, the following flights have been cancelled:
January 15, 2015
- Manila-Bacolod-Manila (2P2907/2908)
- Manila-Busuanga-Manila (2P2033/2034)
- Manila-Cagayan de Oro-Manila (2P2527/2528)
- Manila-Cagayan de Oro-Manila (2P2525/2526)
- Manila-Caticlan-Manila (2P2057/2058)
- Manila-Caticlan-Manila (2P2049/2050)
- Manila-Caticlan-Manila (2P2063/2064)
- Manila-Caticlan-Manila (2P2053/2054)
- Manila-Davao-Manila (2P2817/2818)
- Manila-Davao-Manila (2P2819/2820)
- Manila-Davao-Manila (2P2823/2824)
- Manila-Dumaguete-Manila (2P2543/2544)
- Manila-Laoag-Manila (2P2196/2197)
- Manila-Legazpi-Manila (2P2927/2928)
- Manila-Puerto Princesa-Manila (2P2787/2788)
- Manila-Surigao-Manila (2P2095/2096)
- Manila-Tacloban-Manila (2P2985/2986)
- Manila-Tacloban-Manila (2P2987/2988)
- Manila-Tagbilaran-Manila (2P2777/2778)
- Manila-Tuguegarao-Manila (2P2014/2015)
- Manila-Zamboanga-Manila (2P2997/2998)
- Davao-Manila (2P2808 Jan. 16)
- Cebu-Manila (PR2860)
- Manila-Cebu-Manila (PR2861/2862)
- Manila-Cebu (PR2863)
- Manila-Singapore-Manila (PR511/502)
- Manila-Hong Kong-Manila (PR318/319)
- Manila-Hong Kong-Manila (PR312/313)
- Manila-Kansai (PR408)
- Manila-Bangkok-Manila (PR736/737)
- Manila-Honolulu-Manila (PR100/101)
January 19, 2015
- Manila-Bacolod-Manila (2P2903/2914)
- Manila-Basco-Manila (2P2084/2085)
- Manila-Busuanga-Manila (2P2031/2032)
- Manila-Butuan-Manila (2P2967/2968)
- Manila-Cagayan de Oro-Manila (PR1519/1520)
- Manila-Calbayog-Manila (2P2071/2072)
- Manila-Catarman-Manila (2P2079/2080)
- Manila-Caticlan-Manila (2P2039/2040)
- Manila-Caticlan-Manila (2P2045/2046)
- Manila-Caticlan-Manila (2P2043/2044)
- Manila-Caticlan-Manila (2P2051/2052)
- Manila-Caticlan-Manila (2P2059/2060)
- Manila-Caticlan-Manila (2P2041/2042)
- Manila-Davao-Manila (2P2811/2810)
- Manila-Davao-Manila (2P2813/2814)
- Manila-Iloilo-Manila (2P2931/2940)
- Manila-Kalibo-Manila (2P2969/2970)
- Manila-Legazpi-Manila (2P2925/2926)
- Manila-Naga-Manila (2P2265/2266)
- Manila-Ozamiz-Manila (2P2889/2890)
- Manila-Puerto Princesa-Manila (2P2781/2782)
- Manila-Roxas-Manila (2P2201/2202)
- Manila-Surigao-Manila (2P2095/2096)
- Manila-Tacloban-Manila (2P2981/2982)
- Manila-Tagbilaran-Manila (2P2773/2774)
- Manila-Zamboanga-Manila (2P2993/2994)
- Manila-Zamboanga-Manila (2P2991/2992)
- Zamboanga-Jolo-Zamboanga (2P2245/2246)
- Manila-Cebu-Manila (PR2841/2842)
- Cebu-Manila (PR2846)
- Manila-Cebu (PR2849)
- Manila-Hong Kong-Manila (PR300/301)
- Manila-Hong Kong (PR312 Jan. 18) & Hong Kong-Manila (PR313)
- Manila-Singapore (PR509 Jan. 18) & Singapore-Manila (PR510)
- Manila-Haneda-Manila (PR422/421)
- Manila-Haneda-Manila (PR424/423 Jan. 18)
- Manila-Bangkok-Manila (PR730/731)
- Manila-Jakarta-Manila (PR539/540)
- Manila-Fukuoka-Manila (PR426/425)
- Manila-Singapore-Manila (PR507/508)
Any passengers that have been affected by the flight cancellations are advised to contact Philippine Airlines to arrange either a refund or rebooking for travel within 30 days of the original scheduled departure. In addition,
Philippine Airlines is also advising passengers of schedule adjustments affecting 120 arriving and departing flights on January 15, 17, and 19. Passengers are advised to confirm their flight departure times at least 24 hours in advance.
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| Copyright Photo: Angelo Agcamaran/PPSG |
January 15, 2015
- DG7084/7085 Manila – Bacolod – Manila
- DG7829/7830 Manila – Butuan – Manila
- DG7804/7805 Manila – Cagayan de Oro – Manila
- DG7028/7029 Manila – Davao – Manila
- DG7406/7407 Manila – General Santos – Manila
- DG7058/7059 Manila – Kalibo – Manila
- DG7062/7063 Manila – Puerto Princesa – Manila
- DG7602/7603 Manila – Roxas – Manila
January 19, 2015
- DG7082/7083 Manila – Bacolod – Manila
- DG7002/7003 Manila – Cebu – Manila
- DG7072/7073 Manila – Iloilo – Manila
- DG7074/7075 Manila – Iloilo – Manila
- DG7054/7055 Manila – Kalibo – Manila
- DG7042/7043 Manila – Tacloban – Manila
- DG7044/7045 Manila – Tacloban – Manila
- DG7902/7903 Manila – Tagbilaran – Manila
Due to the closure of Tacloban Airport on January 17, the following flights have been cancelled:
- DG 7042 / 7043 Manila – Tacloban – Manila
- DG 7044 / 7045 Manila – Tacloban – Manila
Passengers that are affected by the cancellations are advised to visit a Cebu Pacific ticket office to either arrange a rebooking or to opt for a full refund.
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| Copyright Photo: Angelo Agcamaran/PPSG |
Meanwhile, the nation's largest low-cost carrier,
Cebu Pacific will be cancelling the following flights during the Papal visit:
January 15, 2015
- 5J479/480 Manila – Bacolod – Manila
- 5J481/482 Manila – Bacolod – Manila
- 5J487/488 Manila – Bacolod – Manila
- 5J529/530 Manila – Busuanga – Manila
- 5J531/532 Manila – Busuanga – Manila
- 5J539/540 Manila – Busuanga – Manila
- 5J787/788 Manila – Butuan – Manila
- 5J385/386 Manila – Cagayan de Oro – Manila
- 5J389/390 Manila – Cagayan de Oro – Manila
- 5J391/392 Manila – Cagayan de Oro – Manila
- 5J899/900 Manila – Caticlan – Manila
- 5J905/906 Manila – Caticlan – Manila
- 5J911/912 Manila – Caticlan – Manila
- 5J573/566 Manila – Cebu – Manila
- 5J569/570 Manila – Cebu – Manila
- 5J571/572 Manila – Cebu – Manila
- 5J955/956 Manila – Davao – Manila
- 5J969/972 Manila – Davao – Manila
- 5J973/974 Manila – Davao – Manila
- 5J975/966 Manila – Davao – Manila
- 5J979 Manila – Davao
- 5J629/630 Manila – Dumaguete – Manila
- 5J995/996 Manila – General Santos – Manila
- 5J447/448 Manila – Iloilo – Manila
- 5J449/450 Manila – Iloilo – Manila
- 5J455/456 Manila – Iloilo – Manila
- 5J457/458 Manila – Iloilo – Manila
- 5J459/460 Manila – Iloilo – Manila
- 5J461/462 Manila – Iloilo – Manila
- 5J463/464 Manila – Iloilo – Manila
- 5J327/328 Manila – Legazpi – Manila
- 5J329/330 Manila – Legazpi – Manila
- 5J639/640 Manila – Puerto Princesa – Manila
- 5J653/654 Manila – Tacloban – Manila
- 5J657/658 Manila – Tacloban – Manila
- 5J659/660 Manila – Tacloban – Manila
- 5J506/507 Manila – Tuguegarao – Manila
- 5J855/856 Manila – Zamboanga – Manila
- 5J857/858 Manila – Zamboanga – Manila
- 5J140/141 Cebu – Caticlan – Cebu
- 5J960 Davao – Manila
- 5J929/930 Manila – Bangkok – Manila
- 5J118/119 Manila – Hong Kong – Manila
- 5J188/189 Manila – Incheon – Manila
- 5J501 Manila – Kuala Lumpur
- 5J362/363 Manila – Macau – Manila
- 5J5038/5039 Manila – Nagoya – Manila
- 5J828/827 Manila – Osaka – Manila
- 5J678 Manila – Shanghai
- 5J813/814 Manila – Singapore – Manila
January 16, 2015
- 5J502 Kuala Lumpur – Manila
- 5J679 Shanghai – Manila
January 17, 2015
- 5J481/482 Manila – Bacolod – Manila
- 5J381/382 Manila – Cagayan de Oro – Manila
- 5J383/384 Manila – Cagayan de Oro – Manila
- 5J389/390 Manila – Cagayan de Oro – Manila
- 5J891/892 Manila – Caticlan – Manila
- 5J911/912 Manila – Caticlan – Manila
- 5J573/574 Manila – Cebu – Manila
- 5J571/572 Manila – Cebu – Manila
- 5J629/630 Manila – Dumaguete – Manila
- 5J455/456 Manila – Iloilo – Manila
- 5J641/642 Manila – Puerto Princesa – Manila
- 5J 651 / 652 Manila – Tacloban – Manila
- 5J 653 / 654 Manila – Tacloban – Manila
- 5J 657 / 658 Manila – Tacloban – Manila
- 5J 659 / 660 Manila – Tacloban – Manila
- 5J617/618 Manila – Tagbilaran – Manila
- 5J 424 / 425 Cebu – Tacloban – Cebu
- 5J 426 / 427 Cebu – Tacloban – Cebu
- 5J 428 / 429 Cebu – Tacloban – Cebu
January 18, 2015
- 5J672 Manila – Beijing
- 5J759 Manila – Jakarta
January 19, 2015
- 5J473/474 Manila – Bacolod – Manila
- 5J483/484 Manila – Bacolod – Manila
- 5J485/486 Manila – Bacolod – Manila
- 5J487/488 Manila – Bacolod – Manila
- 5J529/530 Manila – Busuanga – Manila
- 5J539/540 Manila – Busuanga – Manila
- 5J785/786 Manila – Butuan – Manila
- 5J381/382 Manila – Cagayan de Oro – Manila
- 5J383/384 Manila – Cagayan de Oro – Manila
- 5J397/398 Manila – Cagayan de Oro – Manila
- 5J891/892 Manila – Caticlan – Manila
- 5J893/894 Manila – Caticlan – Manila
- 5J895/898 Manila – Caticlan – Manila
- 5J905/906 Manila – Caticlan – Manila
- 5J907/896 Manila – Caticlan – Manila
- 5J911/912 Manila – Caticlan – Manila
- 5J196/197 Manila – Cauayan – Manila
- 5J561/554 Manila – Cebu – Manila
- 5J553/562 Manila – Cebu – Manila
- 5J563/564 Manila – Cebu – Manila
- 5J885/886 Manila – Cotabato – Manila
- 5J961/962 Manila – Davao – Manila
- 5J963/964 Manila – Davao – Manila
- 5J975/966 Manila – Davao – Manila
- 5J703/704 Manila – Dipolog – Manila
- 5J625/626 Manila – Dumaguete – Manila
- 5J991/992 Manila – General Santos – Manila
- 5J995/996 Manila – General Santos – Manila
- 5J449/450 Manila – Iloilo – Manila
- 5J451/452 Manila – Iloilo – Manila
- 5J453/454 Manila – Iloilo – Manila
- 5J323/324 Manila – Legazpi – Manila
- 5J327/328 Manila – Legazpi – Manila
- 5J521/522 Manila – Naga – Manila
- 5J781/782 Manila – Ozamiz – Manila
- 5J771/772 Manila – Pagadian – Manila
- 5J635/636 Manila – Puerto Princesa – Manila
- 5J637/638 Manila – Puerto Princesa – Manila
- 5J513/514 Manila – San Jose – Manila
- 5J651/652 Manila – Tacloban – Manila
- 5J617/618 Manila – Tagbilaran – Manila
- 5J504/505 Manila – Tuguegarao – Manila
- 5J821/822 Manila – Virac – Manila
- 5J849/850 Manila – Zamboanga – Manila
- 5J851/852 Manila – Zamboanga – Manila
- 5J857/858 Manila – Zamboanga – Manila
- 5J134/135 Cebu – Caticlan – Cebu
- 5J929/930 Manila – Bangkok – Manila
- 5J108/109 Manila – Hong Kong – Manila
- 5J110/111 Manila – Hong Kong – Manila
- 5J673 Beijing – Manila
- 5J760 Jakarta – Manila
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| Copyright Photo: Angelo Agcamaran/PPSG |
Air Asia Zest will also be cancelling a number of its flights. Passengers are advised to confirm their flights at least 24 hours prior to departure. AirAsia has announced the following cancellations during the Papal visit:
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| Image Source: AirAsia Philippines |
Philippine Airlines will once again enjoy the honour of being the official Papal carrier, while Pope Francis is in the Philippines. PAL will fly the Pope to Tacloban on January 17 and back to Manila the same day.
The national flag carrier will then fly Pope Francis back to Rome when he departs the Philippines on January 19. This will be the third time that Philippine Airlines has flown a Pope after having served as the official Papal carrier of Pope John Paul II in 1981 and 1995.
While the Pope is travelling in the Philippines, he will be riding in a
Philippine inspired Pope mobile. Pope Francis shuns luxury cars in favour of more modest transportation. In doing so, he challenges priests, politicians, and world leaders to consider the poor and needy. As a cardinal and even as Pope, he has had a history of riding public transportation. Pope Francis will become the first Pope to ride a Jeepney that has been converted into the Pope mobile.
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