March 26, 2020, Pasay City - As more and more air carriers suspend operations due to COVID-19, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) is streamlining its operations concentrating remaining flights in just one terminal. 

 

Beginning 0001H (12:01AM) of March 28, 2020, the following airlines will be operating to and from NAIA Terminal 1: Etihad Airways, Gulf Air, Oman Air, Korean Airlines, Asiana Airlines, China Airlines, Hong Kong Air, Eva Air, Japan Airlines, Jeju Air, All Nippon Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines, however, has announced that it will start suspending flights to and from Manila beginning March 29, 2020. 

 

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines has also announced suspension of international flight operations starting March 26.  PAL    made their last flight out yesterday (March 25) of their MNL-SFO (PR104)  and MNL-LAX (PR102).  Return flights of these two will be on Friday, March 27, 2020 in NAIA Terminal 1. After these arrivals, PAL will cease to operate for the meantime.

 

As of press time, the following local and foreign airlines have ceased international flight operations: Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, Air Asia, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, Qantas Airways, Turkish Airlines, Emirates Airlines, KLM, Air China, Air New Guinea, China Eastern, China Southern, Ethiopian Airlines, Jet Star Asia, Kuwait Airlines, Malaysian Airlines, Saudia Airlines, Royal Brunei Airlines, Thai Airways, Tiger Airways, Xiamen Airlines.

 

The MIAA’s move to streamline airport operations is a three-pronged approach to 

1) support government in its ECQ efforts because less personnel will have to report for work and will be confined to their homes thereby reducing exposure to the virus;  2) reduce cost on utilities by closing down NAIA T2, T3 and T4 and, 3) afford groundhandling companies with a cheaper way of managing their logistics. 

 

The MIAA vowed to continue servicing sweeper flights and has designated NAIA Terminal 2 for the purpose. Sweeper flights and repatriation flights to help foreign nationals return to their home countries, are jointly undertaken by the Department of Tourism and the Department of Foreign Affairs in collaborarion with the embassies. 

 

On the other hand, government repatriation efforts to bring home OFWs continues to this day.