Three local major airlines welcomed the lifting of the face mask mandate which gives its passengers the flexibility of choice. Wearing of face masks was a requirement to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
Philippine Airlines (PAL) said the move is a "significant sign of the normalization of air travel and proof that the Philippines is open for business and tourism."
Budget carrier Cebu Pacific (CEB) advised passengers to continue practicing minimum health standards such as washing of hands, disinfecting, and physical distancing when necessary.
CEB also encouraged its passengers to check-in online to maintain contactless flight procedures and avoid queuing in the airport check-in counters.
While AirAsia Philippines announced that wearing face mask will no longer be implemented on all domestic flights, wearing mask for international destinations shall remain subject to the existing health protocols in the destination country.
Safety procedures
The national government has lifted the state of public health emergency under Presidential Proclamation 297, supported by the Department of Transportation's Department Order 2023-017.
"We assure that despite the removal of existing Covid-19 protocols, we will continue to observe safety procedures such as disinfection of aircraft surfaces after every flight and the use of HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters and an advanced air flow system inside the aircraft cabin to help mitigate any potential health risks," PAL said in a Viber statement, adding, "we shall continue to comply with any Covid-related regulation imposed by specific countries."
Despite dropping the face mask policy, AirAsia Philippines "remains committed to adhering to the highest standards of safety among all its flights. Deep cleaning and aircraft sanitation will still be in effect on every after flight."
No room for complacency
"There is no room for complacency in the airline business. We want our guests to feel secure when they fly with AirAsia. Although it is no longer a policy, guests, and crew may still opt to wear face masks whenever they deem necessary. However, we also want to reiterate that our aircraft are equipped with High-Efficiency Particulate Air filters which filter and block 99.97 percent of airborne particles including known bacteria and viruses," said Steve Dailisan, AirAsia Philippines Country Head for Communications and Public Affairs.
AirAsia destinations Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan have lifted the face mask requirement as early as first quarter of 2023.
AirAsia also is asking its guests for more patience as airport authorities have implemented the mandatory removal of shoes during final x-ray screening in the airports nationwide including the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for enhanced security purposes.
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