Arya News - Philippine Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said the flight adjustments would accommodate the arrival and departure of foreign delegates and heads of state, with the first arrivals expected on Nov. 14.
MANILA – More than 300 domestic flights in Metro Manila will be rescheduled or canceled ahead of the Asean Summit 2026 next week, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Wednesday.
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said the flight adjustments would accommodate the arrival and departure of foreign delegates and heads of state, with the first arrivals expected on Nov. 14.
“We are hosting a major global event, and there will be a major security operation in Metro Manila. That includes NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport), as most of them will be landing at NAIA,” he said.
He added that major security operations would be implemented at airports in the days leading up to and following the summit.
Dizon assured affected passengers that they would be given options to minimize the inconvenience caused by the flight adjustments.
“Passengers are assured of any of the following: free rebooking with all penalties waived, a full refund, or a travel fund they can use for future trips. All of these options are guaranteed,” he said.
READ: Marcos makes final walkthrough of Asean Summit venues
READ: Marcos wants South China Sea code of conduct finalized during Asean
Article continues after this advertisement
Affected travelers may rebook their flights without penalties, request a full refund or opt for a travel fund for future trips.
Dizon also assured passengers that the impact on international carriers would be minimal, with no cancellations expected.
“There may be some effects, such as occasional delays, but there will be no cancellations of international flights,” he said.
Dizon urged travelers to plan their trips ahead of time and allow additional time for their journeys to the airport.
He also advised passengers to contact their respective airlines to verify their flight schedules and regularly check airline websites for updates, noting that carriers had been instructed to keep their websites updated.
Details of affected flights will also be posted on the official websites of the DOTr, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB).
To assist affected passengers, the DOTr will deploy help desks at several airports, including NAIA, Clark International Airport and Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA).
At NAIA Terminal 1, assistance booths will be available at the departure and arrival lobbies. At Terminal 2, help desks will be stationed at the departure and arrival areas of both the North and South wings.
At Terminal 3, passengers may seek assistance after the arrival customs area and at designated information counters. Help desks will also be available at Clark’s CAB booth and MCIA’s domestic and international CAB booths.
Dizon expressed confidence in the country’s security preparations for the arrival of foreign dignitaries, saying the government was coordinating with private partners.
“These are heads of state, after all. We are confident in our security efforts together with our private partners,” he said.