Cebu Pacific Suspends Flights Completely

Due to the devastating effects of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Cebu Pacific and its subsidiary Cebgo will be suspending all its flights effective March 19 until at least April 14 2020.  

Cebu Pacific A320
Image source: hybridace101

March 18 will be the last day for Cebu Pacific flights where the company will fly between Manila and Bangkok, Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Ho Chi Monh, Singapore, Taipei, and Bali.  

As Covid-19 escalated, Cebu Pacific had to gradually cancel most of its 2,800 weekly flights due to restrictions imposed by various governments and reduced demand.  However, the carrier was forced to cancel the remainder operations due to Enhanced Community Quarantine measures that the Philippine government imposed on Luzon island, which houses two of Cebu Pacific's base airports - Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Clark International Airport.  Under Enhanced Community Quarantine measures, all modes of transport in and and out of Luzon are severely restricted to help stem Covid-19.  

The carrier assured that it will assist stranded passengers as a result of the suspension of operations.  Meanwhile it has offered waived rebooking fees and refunds for certain affected passengers.  The  complete range of options available depends on when passengers originally intended to fly.  A full refund is offered if passengers were due to fly on dates that the airline was forced to suspend operations but not to those who voluntarily opted to cancel their journeys scheduled after Cebu Pacific plans to resume them.  

Cebu Pacific is just one of the latest carriers severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.  Most other airlines around the world have also been forced to reduce or cancel flights and layoff staff.  Philippine Airlines plans to suspend domestic flights as well due to the Enhanced Quarantine Measures meant to stem Covid-19.  The Centre for Aviation (CAPA) has warned that many airlines are in a state of “technical bankruptcy” and are unable to service debt obligations.