The Philippines’ IATF or Inter-Agency Task Force has updated the quarantine status over Metro Manila from Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) to Modified ECQ from August 21 to August 31. Due to this update, AirAsia Philippines has made updates on its flight schedule during the MECQ period.
However, leisure travel is not yet allowed. Only essential travelers will be allowed to fly. The list includes the following:
- Health/emergency frontline personnel
- Government officials and frontline personnel
- Duly authorized humanitarian assistance actors
- Persons traveling for medical/humanitarian reasons
- Persons going to the airport for travel abroad
- Persons crossing zones for work or business permitted in the zone of destination, and going back home
- Returning or repatriated OFWs and other Overseas Filipinos returning to their places of residence
Updates on travel requirements to and from some places
Bohol and Cebu have also updated their restrictions and entry requirements. The “Temporary Suspension” of inbound travel for returning residents and tourists to the Province of Bohol until 31 August 2021, as mandated under EO 40 issued by the provincial government, where only authorized travelers will be allowed entry to Bohol.
The Province of Cebu meanwhile has started requiring a negative RT-PCR test result for all travelers entering their seaports and airports starting 18 August as mandated under EO 40 issued by the provincial government.
Options for affected passengers
According to AirAsia, affected passengers may take advantage of enhanced flexibility options to manage their flights. AirAsia is offering provisions for their passengers who wish to make changes to their flights in line with the new developments following the Philippine government’s latest directive.
All passengers coming from and going to Manila with existing flight bookings with a departure date from 21 to 31 August 2021 can move their flight from 1 to 30 September 2021 and will be able to select from a range of extended flexibility options for future travel.
Options available for affected passengers with flight bookings are detailed below:
- Unlimited flight changes: Change to any new travel date before 30 November 2021 on the same route for an unlimited number of times without any additional cost, subject to seat availability; OR
- Credit account: Retain the value of the flight booking in the guest’s AirAsia BIG Member account for future travel with AirAsia to be redeemed within 730 calendar days (2 years) from the issuance date. The travel date of the new booking can fall on any date within the published flight schedule on airasia.com