Air travel disruptions next week

CEBU, Philippines - If you intend to travel from Cebu to Manila or vice versa next week, read this.

Three airline companies are cancelling 54 flights between Cebu and Manila on November 16 to 20 as part of tight security measures being implemented for delegates to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

The delegates are arriving in Manila on November 16 to 17 while the APEC meetings will be on November 18 to 19. The delegates leave for home on November 20.

Estee Marie Plunket, head of Corporate Affairs of GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation, which manages Mactan-Cebu International Airport, however, said passengers need not worry because flight arrangements has been made.

“The airlines made a pre-advice to the passengers as to what flights will be cancelled because of the implemented no fly zone,” she said, adding that Cebu Pacific Air is cancelling 30 flights Monday to Friday next week, 11 for Philippine Airlines, and 13 for Air Asia.

“Naa silay accomodation sa mga pasahero, either ilaha i-rebook at no cost, ibalhin, or i-reschedule ang mga flights,” she said.

Cebu Pacific and PAL reportedly also assured affected passengers of accommodation and by rescheduling them to the “soonest flights” possible while waiving the rebooking and penalty charges.

Plunket, though, said the passengers should contact them so they could avail of the offered arrangement.

“Mao man na ang makasulbad,” she said, referring to possible flight schedule problems the passengers may face. — (FREEMAN)