Emirates and Etihad repatriation flights to Philippines cancelled after country closes to passenger planes

UAE airlines have cancelled flights to Manila after airports across the country were temporarily closed

An Emirates plane was forced to return to Dubai after a passenger on board a repatriation flight gave birth. Courtesy: Emirates

Emirates and Etihad have cancelled a total of six repatriation flights from Dubai to Manila after airports in the Philippines were closed to passenger flights on Sunday.

Emirates flights from Dubai to Manila on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday, May 3, 6 and 8, have all been cancelled.

“As directed by the Philippines government, all passenger flights are temporarily restricted between May 3, 2020, until May 9, 2020 inclusive. Emirates flight EK334 from Dubai to Manila during this period has therefore been cancelled,” said an Emirates representative.

The EK334 service that was due to depart Dubai just after 10.30am on Sunday, May 3, was cancelled and did not take off, according to Emirates. Flight tracking sites announced it had departed, but it never left the UAE, the airline stated.

The cancelled Emirates flights were set to take Filipinos in the UAE to their home country. Travellers who were booked to fly on any of the cancelled repatriation flights are advised to contact their travel agent or the Emirates booking office to change travel plans.

Etihad has also cancelled repatriation services that were scheduled to depart Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, May 5, 7 and 8.

A view of the Manila skyline is seen as the community is under quarantine. EPA

The Philippines government has suspended all incoming passenger flights from Sunday for one week. This is in an effort to reduce pressure on quarantine facilities.

Flights banned at nine airports

The temporary ban on passenger flights applies to nine airports including Manila Ninoy Aquino in Manila, the country’s busiest hub. The affected airports are:

• Ninoy Aquino International Airport
• Clark International Airport
• Davao International Airport
• Iloilo International Airport
• Kalibo International Airport
• Laoag International Airport
• Mactan-Cebu International Airport
• Puerto Princesa International Airport
• Zamboanga International Airport

Cargo flights and services such as medical and utility flights are exempt from the ban.

Travellers and visitors were already banned from entering the Philippines and the country's borders were only open to Filipino nationals.

"The government has already accommodated around 20,000 repatriates who are quarantined in Metro Manila, with an arrival rate of 2,000 per day," said a statement by Manila International Airport Authority.

There have been more than 9,000 cases of the coronavirus in the Philippines, with a reported 607 deaths.