PAL, Cebu Pacific adjust Boracay-bound flights following shutdown of island

MANILA, Philippines — Philippines Airlines and Cebu Pacific will suspend flights to and from Caticlan and Kalibo, Aklan following the six-month closure order of Boracay for rehabilitation.

The announcements were made Wednesday night after President Rodrigo Duterte approved the shutdown of the island — which at one point, he compared to a “cesspool”—during the Cabinet meeting.

In a statement, PAL said it will “scale down services to Caticlan and Kalibo airports for a six-month period beginning late April.”

The flag carrier will operate nine weekly flights between Manila and Kalibo and seven weekly flights between Manila and Caticlan.

“All other Caticlan and Kalibo flights from Manila will be suspended from April 20 to October 27, while flights from Cebu and Clark will be suspended from April 26 to October 27,” it said.

To cushion the impact to the country’s tourism, PAL will expand flights to other tourist and provincial destinations in the country during the closure period.

PAL President Jaime Bautista sought the understanding of the passengers.

“In the long-term, a safe and revitalized Boracay will benefit all stakeholder in the travel and tourism sector and the Filipino people as a whole,” Bautista said.

Starting April 26, Cebu Pacific will also cancel several flights to and from Caticlan and Kalibo. This will last until October 25.

Cebu Pacific, however, will still operate few flights to and from Caticlan and Kalibo during the temporary shutdown period to "serve local residents and ensure continuity of commerce."

The airline said the affected passengers may get a full refund, rebook the flight or reroute to any domestic destination.

Last year, the province of Aklan, where Boracay is situated, registered a 14.3-percent increase in tourist arrivals, from 1.94 million a year before to 2.2 million.

Despite proposals to shut down the island, the government still approved plans for the construction of casino facilities by a Chinese and local development company

Related video: