Here's how you'll fly Cebu Pacific, PAL under new normal

MANILA -- Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines on Tuesday notified passengers of "new normal" procedures as they prepared to fly again from a 2-month stoppage due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

CEBU PACIFIC

Cebu Pacific said it was moving towards a "contactless" travel experiences when flights resume following a 2-month suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

All pilots and cabin crew will undergo rapid antibody tests before flying. All operating crew and ground staff will also be required to wear personal protective equipment while on duty, the country's largest airline said.

Cleaning and disinfection of all facilities will be "ramped up." All passengers will be provided with alcohol-based sanitizers at the airport and inside airplanes, Cebu Pacific said.

All aircraft will undergo "extensive daily disinfection" using procedures aligned with International Air Transport Association guidelines, it said. All lavatories will be sanitized every 30 minutes.

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"We are implementing additional procedures to assure our passengers and give them the confidence to travel again. Rolling out 'contactless flights' will minimize face-to-face contact between our ground staff and our passengers and observe physical distancing,” said Candice Iyog, Cebu Pacific Vice President for Marketing and Customer Experience.

Cebu Pacific gave the following guidelines for passengers:

- Passengers will be required to wear face masks upon entry at the airport and throughout the flight.
- Passengers are urged to check-in for flights online
- Passengers will be required to hold their own boarding passes with the bar code facing the staff for scanning
- Lines and boarding will be managed according to physical distancing guidelines

Cebu Pacific will likely resume with a limited number of domestic flights, Iyog said.

Metro Manila and other urban areas considered at high risk from COVID-19 are on lockdown or enhanced community quarantine until May 15. Once lifted, some restrictions on travel will be eased.

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PHILIPPINE AIRLINES

PAL's New Normal/ May 4, 2020

The flag carrier released the following guidelines:

BOOKING A FLIGHT

- Thermal scans before entering ticketing office
- No mask, no entry for all visitors 
- Managed social distancing inside ticketing office
- PAL staff wearing face masks 
- Transparent barriers at the counter

BEFORE A FLIGHT

- Check in online 
- Be at the airport early, 4 hours before international departures and 3 hours before domestic departures from airports in the Philippines
- Face masks required for all flights 
- For Carry-On: Up to 2 kg allowed from the original 7 kg 
- For Free Baggage Allowance: 5 kg added to passenger's FBA
- Passengers may carry on board up to 10 100 ml bottles of sanitizers with up to 70 percent alcohol

CHECKING IN

- Thermal scans at airport entrances
- Managed social distancing at check in counters
- Availability of sanitizers 
- PAL airport staff in protective gear
- Monitoring of social distancing compliance

MABUHAY LOUNGE

- Sanitizing floor mat before entering the lounge
- Managed social distancing at lounge seating areas
- Availability of sanitizers
- Lounge staff in protective gear (masks and gloves)
- Meals in sealed packaging
- Beverage on demand

DURING A FLIGHT

- Rigorous cabin cleaning and disinfection
- Crew in full Personal Protective Equipment
- Simplified meal or snack service
- Social Distancing cabin seating options HEPA filters to purify cabin air; fresh cabin air to protect against viruses

FLIGHT ARRIVAL

- Facemasks required for all passengers
- Sanitizing floor mat upon deplaning
- Health forms distributed to passengers to document travel/health history
- Availability of sanitizers
- Periodic disinfection of baggage pushcart handles
- Monitoring of social distancing compliance

Due to the extended lockdown, all PAL international and domestic flights are cancelled up to May 15. Resumption of operations will depend on the duration of the quarantine, travel restrictions of various governments, passenger demand and public health situation at the destinations.