MANILA — Local carriers Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Cebu Pacific (CEB) have announced flight adjustments they will implement to and from Caticlan and Kalibo, Aklan amid the impending closure of nearby top tourist spot Boracay Island.
The government announced on Wednesday that Boracay would be closed for tourism for six months starting April 26. The period will be used for the island’s rehabilitation.
As such, PAL and CEB have announced canceled flights. The two will both decrease the flight frequencies to and from Kalibo and Caticlan.
Flag carrier PAL will have nine weekly flights between Manila and Kalibo, and seven weekly flights between Manila and Caticlan to maintain continued links to these gateways to Boracay and Aklan province.
“All other Caticlan and Kalibo flights from Manila will be suspended from April 20 to October 27, while flights to Caticlan from Cebu and Clark will be suspended from April 26 to October 27,” the flag carrier said in a statement.
Despite the decreased number of flight frequencies to Boracay, PAL will expand flight frequencies to other tourist destinations to help sustain growth in domestic tourism.
Additional frequencies between Manila and Cebu, Iloilo, Puerto Princesa, and Bacolod will be offered starting April 20.
Starting April 26, the flag carrier will also increase flights between Cebu and Busuanga (Coron), Cebu and Siargao, and between Clark and Busuanga.
More flights between Cebu and Clark will be offered starting April 28. The public can also expect more Manila-Dumaguete and Manila-Cagayan de Oro flights starting May 1.
CEB, for its part, has announced the cancellation of various flights from April 26 to October 27.
These flights include Manila-Caticlan, Cebu-Caticlan-Cebu, Caticlan-Clark-Caticlan, Manila-Kalibo-Manila, Kalibo-Cebu-Kalibo, Clark-Kalibo-Clark, and Kalibo-Incheon-Kalibo routes.
CEB will still operate several flights to and from Kalibo and Caticlan to ensure continuity of commerce in Boracay.
Both airlines have advised passengers to manage their rebooking, refund, and rerouting requests. (Ma. Cristina Arayata/PNA)
