CEB Opens 1st Airport Covid19 Laboratory in PH

The Reason Most Flight Diversions Went To Cebu

12 July 2020



Mactan-Cebu International Airport becomes the first airport in the country equipped with COVID-19 laboratory as it opened 400-sqm. of space capable of processing 1,500 to 3,000 RT-PCR tests a day.

Manila International Airport and Clark International Airport still relies on off-facility laboratory to do the RT-PCR testing of arriving passengers.

“We immediately embarked on the ambitious project of putting up the fastest built and accredited molecular laboratory with the capability to do mass testing and generate results in the quickest possible time,” MCIAA General Manager and CEO Atty. Steve Dicdican said on Saturday.

According to Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA), in partnership with the GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC), this exclusive passenger laboratory will have test results as fast as 6 hours after swabbing.

DOTr said a separate molecular laboratory is being set up in Clark and NAIA in compliance with Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade directive for airports to have a molecular laboratory.

Repatriation Not Only For The Living

No One Is Left Behind

11 July 2020

The Department of Labor and Employment apologized for the delay in the repatriation of the more than 270 remains of overseas Filipino workers who died in Saudi Arabia, after only 49 bodies of the OFWs arrived in the country. Almost half of them died of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

“We sincerely apologize for the much-delayed homecoming owing to the lockdowns and strenuous processes that we have to undergo for their return. The added anxiety to the families caused by the suspended homeward journey is certainly undeserved,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said in a statement.

He said of the 49 OFWs repatriated, 32 were from Dammam, while 17 were from Riyadh.

Bello said another batch of bodies of OFWs would be flown from Saudi Arabia by next week.

He said the government of President Duterte will continue to fly home all the dead, and if need be, not only from the Middle East but also from all over the world.- Manila Standard

Terminal, For Real!

110 Days and Counting

8 July 2020

By Lucy Middleton

A tourist is desperate to be rescued after spending 110 days living in an airport in the Philippines due to the coronavirus pandemic. Roman Trofimov, who lives in Estonia, landed in Manila airport from Bangkok on March 20, but was denied access to the country as entry visas were no longer being issued for arrivals.

He says his passport was then taken from him before he reached immigration. The airline he had travelled with, AirAsia, was then unable to return him to Thailand, and he was told he would have to wait for Enhanced Community Quarantine to be over until he is allowed to fly.

The lockdown, which restricts all travel for anyone not a diplomat, medical or humanitarian worker, was brought in by the Philippine goverment on March 16. Mr Trofimov, who says he is disabled, likened his situation to being a prisoner in the airport.

He has been sleeping in an airport departures hotel room and surviving on food and snacks donated by staff.

He flew into Manila on March 20 and has been stuck there since (Picture: Viral Press)

The tourist has repeatedly asked his embassy for help but they were unable to organise a repatriation flight. He said: ‘My health is getting worse because of malnutrition, lack of sun, and fresh air. I have no other choice,but to go public. Please share with news agencies.’

Mr Trofimov had an onward flight to Cebu, in the Philippines, booked for the same day he landed in Manila and a return flight to Bangkok for April 2. Both were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Metro Manila was shifted to a lower level General Community Quarantine in June, but despite the more relaxed status, most flights have still not been allowed to resume, including those to Estonia. The tourist has been sleeping in an airport departures hotel room and surviving on food and snacks donated by staff (Picture: Viral Press)

Flights have not yet resumed in Manila. Mr Trofimov told Estonian broadcaster ERR that he also isn’t allowed to fly out of the Philippines to a new country as he was denied entry, and can only be ‘taken back by the airline’ which brought him to Manila.

He said: ‘They took my passport and will give it back only when I fly to Estonia. But they don’t fly to Estonia, they don’t fly anywhere currently. I am told to wait all the time until flights are restarted. ‘I was offered an opportunity via Turkish Airlines, but they also don’t fly currently. So I am waiting, the departure date has been delayed four times now. They are extending the emergency situation here, the country is still closed.’ - Metro

"AirAsia covered costs for his accommodation and meals three times a day since his arrival," the airline said.

Trofimov finally flew back home on Tuesday. AirAsia said his exit flight was arranged in coordination with the Estonian Consulate General in Manila.

"With help of god and [thanks] to all people who supported me in this difficult time I am going home now!" he said. "Thanks for sharing my story with world, good advice you give me and kind word of support."

DOTr Rejects NAIA Consortium Re-design Proposal

8 July 2020

The Department of Transport (DOTr) has rejected the financial changes to the proposed redevelopment of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport with finality.

Ruben S. Reinoso, Jr., Transportation undersecretary for planning and project development, said that NAIA consortium which is composed of Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc; AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp.; Alliance Global Group, Inc.; Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corp.; Filinvest Development Corp.; and JG Summit Holdings, Inc., refused the terms and conditions approved by NEDA.

“Ayaw nila yung terms and conditions na inapprove ng NEDA Board, and they wanted it changed. We stood our ground.” Reinoso said.

Reinoso said NEDA approved an 80-day re-negotiation period after the NEDA Board’s approval of the project in November last year but the government stood on its position.

"Their proposal is technically dead. There was nothing to negotiate anymore." he said.

In separate disclosures to the Philippine stock exchange, NAIA Consortium disclosed that the government thumbed down the “consortium proposed changes to update the NAIA Project.”

“Unfortunately, the government indicated that it is not willing to accept most of the Consortium’s proposed options and the Consortium can only move forward with the NAIA Project under the options it has proposed,” NAIA Consortium said.

According to DOTr, the P102-billion NAIA rehabilitation project will instead be implemented by the government where it will build the long delayed Terminal 5 and interconnection project.

In the Consortium disclosure, the group said the changes in its proposal would be critical to make the project viable amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The far-reaching and long lasting consequences of the coronavirus pandemic on airline travel, airline operations and airport passenger traffic necessitated a review of the assumptions and plans to ensure that the NAIA Project will be viable in the new normal,” NAIA Consortium said.

Pilot Successfully Ditches Plane In Water off Zamboanga Runway

7 July 2020

A Piper PA34-200 Seneca (RP-C834) plane carrying four people crash landed in Zamboanga waters after suffering engine failure upon take-off around 9:35 this morning. All persons on board survived the crash and were brought to Western Command Hospital who finds them in good condition.

The plane owned by Royhle Aviation Academy, Inc of Dumaguete City was piloted by an Indian national together with an Indian national flight instructor, a Nepali student pilot and a Filipino mechanic that had routine training mission to Zamboanga International airport from Dumaguete City hours earlier. It was cleared by tower to take-off back home when two of its engine suddenly died while climbing.

The pilot managed to successfully ditched the plane in the coastal water of Sinunuc few kilometers away from runway 09 saving their lives.

Cause of engine failure are now being investigated by the Aircraft Accident Investigation and Inquiry Board (AAIIB) while the aircraft is brought to CAAP grounds for examination.

Tricycle Driver Yusop Mufri narrates the event below:

YA AUCILIA!
Posted by E105.9 Emedia MO FM on Monday, July 6, 2020

Posted by E105.9 Emedia MO FM on Tuesday, July 7, 2020

Travel Restrictions Eases Up

NAIA Opens Terminal 3 For Airlines

5 July 2020

NAIA Terminal 2 will continue to service international arrival flights for Philippine Airlines (PAL)while PAL international departures will continue to operate in Terminal 1.

Airlines assigned to Terminal 1 will remain in Terminal 1: Air China, Air Niugini, Asiana Airlines, China Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, Etihad Airways, Eva Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Gulf Air, Hong Kong Airlines, Japan Airlines, Jeju Air, Jetstar Asia, Jetstar Japan, Korean Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Oman Air, Royal Brunei Airlines, Saudia Airlines, Scoot, Thai Airways and Xiamen Air. Philippine Airlines and PAL Express will operate domestic flight from Terminal 2.

by Ariel Fernandez

Thirteen international and local airlines that temporarily moved to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 due to concerns over the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) will move back and start operating at NAIA Terminal 3 starting July 8, 2020, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said Saturday.

Media Affairs Division head Jess Martinez said that 13 international and local airlines are: Air Asia (Z2), All Nippon Air (NH), Cathay Pacific Airways (CX), Cebu Pacific Air (5J), Delta Airlines (DL), Emirates Air (EY), KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM), Qantas Airlines (QF), Qatar Airways (QR), Singapore Airlines (SQ), Turkish Airlines (TK), United Airlines (UA), and PAL Express.

These airlines temporarily moved to NAIA 1 last April as MIAA streamlined operations in a bid to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Cebu Pacific, Cebgo, Philippines AirAsia and Air Swift will operate domestic flights from Terminal 3. Terminal 4 remains closed. Terminal 4 is used by Cebgo, AirAsia, Skyjet and Air Swift.

Off Limits To Foreign Nationals
Martinez clarified that only foreign nationals stranded in the country due to the lockdown; diplomats, including their spouses and children; and other nationals with permanent residence visa can depart at NAIA.

On the other hand, only returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), stranded Filipinos in other countries, and other nationals with permanent residence visas and students will be allowed to arrive at NAIA on board commercial flights, Martinez added.

Limited Arrivals
While the government has started easing restrictions, arrivals are still limited at the NAIA terminals – only 2,400 passengers per day that includes 1,200 repatriated OFWs and 1,200 for commercial passengers.

International airlines like Cathay Pacific Airlines, which have six flights per day for Hong Kong-Manila-Hong Kong trip, will operate once a day only if there are enough passengers per flight, Martinez said.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI), Bureau of Customs (BOC), and other government agencies that scaled down operations and downsized its workforce at NAIA following flight cancellations and travel restrictions will be back to normal operations starting July 8.

PAL shifts to cargo flights amid crisis

29 June 2020

By Othel V. Campos

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines is shifting to more cargo flights to make up for the lull in passenger flights.

“We’ve become more and more of a cargo airline because, as we said, our airplanes could also be used to help preserve the critical supply chains, including carriage of PPEs, medicines, equipment and all the kinds of goods that are needed to keep communities thriving. At the same time, we’ve operated hundreds of charters, and we ration flights to bring not just foreign nationals back to their home countries bit also returning OFWs,” said PAL vice president for corporate communication Jose Enrique Perez de Tagle.

“We may have to operate more cargo flights. We have to repurpose some of our aircraft to fly cargo other than just passenger,” he said.

Perez de Tagle was one of the panelist in a webinar organized by the Asian Institute of Management on Monday. The e-forum presented a survey on Filipino travellers’ sentiment on the new normal.

CEB Cuts Fleet, Crews

Trims Flight and Cabin Crew

CEB carries cargo instead of passengers in its Airbus A330-300 to and from Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Osaka and Tokyo to survive.

24 June 2020

Low cost carrier Cebu Pacific (CEB) is implementing a third wave of job cuts as it fights to survive its business amidst the new coronavirus pandemic.

Charo Logarta Lagamon, Cebu Pacific director for communications, disclosed the layoffs and voluntary separation could affect about 30 percent of the carrier’s 4,000 employees from flight, cabin and ground crew to be implemented by early next month.

“Cebu Pacific is rightsizing. We are fighting to survive,” says Lagamon.

The airline laid off an initial batch of 190 newly hired cabin crew members in March while its ground handling services lets go of more than 1,400 workers.

Lagamon said the airline's projected recovery for this month is far from real conditions on the ground as few passengers take the skies due to quarantine restrictions. Its international flight operations remains suspended until end of July.

“We expect travel recovery to happen over a longer period, with COVID-19 impacting the aviation industry,” she said.

The aviation industry's operations has been hampered by the limitation on the capacity of quarantine and medical facilities across the country. Airlines was also warned that their flight schedule is subject to day to day acceptance by different Local Government Units that has problems with inadequate quarantine facility.

The airline has implemented a sweeping review of its long-term expansion, which includes the acquisition of 61 next-generation planes until 2026. It is also pre-terminating leases on expiring contract to some of its Airbus A320 aircraft to be return to lessor earlier than expected due to excess capacity. Delivery of new aircraft are also put on hold.

The new approach will ensure the long-term sustainability of the business, given the expected changes in travel demand and consumer behavior, according to Lagamon.