All domestic carriers in the Philippines are abiding by the government’s “no vax, no ride” policy, accepting only fully vaccinated passengers from January 17, 2022.
The Philippine government has placed the National Capital Region of the country under Alert Level 3, and on January 11, 2022, issued a Department Order including a ‘no vax, no ride’ initiative, which restricts unvaccinated people from taking public transportation.
On January 14, 2022, AirAsia Philippines announced that it will continue to fly fully vaccinated passengers from its hub in Manila. Unvaccinated passengers with need for essential travel can still do so if they present a certificate showing medical exemption from the COVID-19 vaccine.
“From the onset of the pandemic, AirAsia has always been working closely with the IATF, DOTr and its attached agencies along with medical experts in the implementation of multi-layered approaches to safety in the aviation sector,” AirAsia Philippines CEO Ricky Isla said in a statement.
The country’s flag carrier, Philippine Airlines, also announced that from January 17, 2022, it will only accept fully vaccinated passengers. According to the airline, travelers are considered fully vaccinated if at least two weeks have elapsed after their second dose of a two-dose COVID vaccine, or two weeks after receiving a single-dose COVID vaccine.
“We laud the DOTr’s (Department of Transportation) initiative to help the Filipino public embark on essential travels during the current crisis,” Philippine Airlines president and COO Gilbert Santa Maria said to local media.
“We assure the public that PAL will do its part to uphold the strictest safety standards and health protocols in our continuing operation of our domestic and international flight network,” he added.
Cebu Pacific also said that it is abiding by the government’s policy.
“Cebu Pacific continues to safeguard the safety of its passengers and crew. As such, Cebu Pacific will comply with the latest government order which aims to protect the majority,” Candice Iyog, vice president for marketing and customer experience at Cebu Pacific said in a statement.
The Philippine government said that the restrictions for unvaccinated people will be in effect only while Metro Manila is on Alert Level 3 or higher.
