Contrary to what a local aviation blog reported a few days ago, Chinese carriers China Eastern (MU) and China Southern Airlines (CZ) are not yet resuming their scheduled commercial flights to and from the Philippines early May 2020.
Based on an update released by China Eastern (MU) on their website dated 21 April 2020, flights MU211 (PVG-MNL) and MU212 (MNL-PVG) are still canceled from 03 May 2020 up to 31 May 2020 with the exception of some days in May 2020 where MU211 and MU212 will be operating. (MU211 will be operational on 05, 12, 19, 26, and 31 May 2020; while MU212 will be flying on 06, 13, 20, and 27 May 2020.)
Flights MU5045 (PVG-CRK) and MU5046 (CRK-PVG) are still canceled from 03 May 2020 up to 07 June 2020. While flights MU5023 (PVG-CEB) and MU5024 (CEB-PVG) remain canceled from 03 May 2020 up until 07 June 2020.
PVG is the airport code for Shanghai Pudong International Airport; MNL is Ninoy Aquino International Airport; CRK is Clark International Airport in Pampanga; while CEB is Cebu Mactan International Airport.
As for China Southern Airlines (CZ), all of their flights to and from Manila have been suspended since the imposition of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) late March 2020. The airline has yet to issue a notice on when their flights to and from the country will be resuming.
BI: Travel Restrictions Stand During ECQ Extension
According to the Bureau of Immigration (BI), travel restrictions set during the onset of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) shall remain during its extension.
“We are on standby to implement any changes in travel restrictions, as deemed necessary by the President upon recommendation by the IATF. This is a sacrifice we must all take in order to ensure that we flatten the curve and prevent the further spread of this virus,” according to BI Commissioner Jaime Morente.
The BI stressed that the entry of foreign nationals is still highly restricted. Only Filipinos, their foreign spouses and children, accredited foreign government and international organization officials, and foreign airline crew shall remain eligible to enter the country.
On the other hand, only Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW), foreign nationals, permanent residents, and student visa holders abroad are still allowed to leave the country.