10 More Middle East Flights Canceled on Monday — PAL and Cebu Pacific Ground Doha, Dubai, and Riyadh Routes Again
The flight cancellations keep piling up. Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific have scrapped a combined 10 flights to and from the Middle East on Monday, March 2, as tensions in the region show no signs of easing. This is now the third consecutive day of widespread cancellations by Philippine carriers.
PAL canceled six flights: PR 684 Manila-Doha, PR 685 Doha-Manila, PR 658/659 Manila-Dubai-Manila roundtrip, and PR 654/655 Manila-Riyadh-Manila roundtrip. The flag carrier said the cancellations were made 'to ensure the safety of passengers, crew and ground personnel.'
Cebu Pacific pulled four flights: 5J 14/15 Manila-Dubai-Manila and 5J 18/19 Manila-Dubai-Manila. 'The safety and well-being of our passengers, crew, and teams on ground remain our highest priority,' the budget airline said. Free rebooking and travel fund options are available for affected CEB passengers, while PAL is offering both refund and rebooking options.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said it is 'closely monitoring the situation' and is 'in constant coordination with airlines, airport authorities, and international aviation partners.' CAAP Director General Raul del Rosario assured the public that safety remains the top priority.
With no clear end to the conflict in sight — Iran's retaliatory strikes have hit Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, and other Gulf cities — travelers with Middle East bookings should prepare for continued disruptions. Both airlines are urging passengers to check their websites and social media for the latest updates before heading to the airport.
Source: The Manila Times
