After disaster, PAL, CebuPac continue flights to Japan

Despite the magnitude-8.9 quake and tsunami that devastated Japan Friday, Philippine air carriers Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific said they are maintaining most of their flights to and from Japan. Flag carrier PAL said passengers of a Japan-bound flight that was canceled Friday can take the flights scheduled for this weekend. "Most PAL flights to and from Japan are operating today [Saturday] as scheduled, based on current situation," PAL said in a news release on its website. It said passengers of Friday's canceled PR-431 will be accommodated on PR-431 flight on Sunday (Narita-Manila) or PR-433, Saturday (Narita-Cebu) with connection to Manila via PR-864 or PR-856. Passengers can call (+632) 855-8888 for further inquiries and other flight information. A schedule on PAL's website showed one flight (PR-431, Narita to Manila) was canceled. Other scheduled flights for Saturday included: PR 434 Cebu to Narita, arrived in Tokyo 9 a.m. PR 433 Narita to Cebu, to arrive 2:25 p.m. PR 426 Manila to Fukuoka PR 425 Fukuoka to Manila PR 438 Manila to Nagoya PR 408 Manila to Kansai (Osaka) PR 432 Manila to Narita Scheduled flights for Sunday included: PR 437 Nagoya to Manila, ETD 9:30 a.m. PR 407 Kansai to Manila, ETD 9:55 a.m. PR 431 Narita to Manila, ETD 9:30 a.m. On the other hand, Cebu Pacific said as early as Friday afternoon its flights to Osaka and other international and domestic destinations "are still on schedule." "However, we ask everyone to stay tuned and keep posted on the latest updates and possible developments with regard to this event," it said in its Facebook page. Check airlines schedule Philippine travelers bound for Japan were advised Saturday to continue checking with their airlines if their flights were canceled. Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) head Jose Angel Honrado issued the advice, even as he announced that at least one predawn Japan-bound flight was canceled. "Even we are having problems verifying arrival and departure schedules to and from Japan," Honrado also said in an interview on dzBB radio. Some flights for Japan from Manila were canceled Friday afternoon after the powerful quake and subsequent tsunami that hit Japan. "We cannot determine at this time how many Japan-bound flights will be canceled today (Saturday)," Honrado added. Meanwhile, Honrado declined to speculate if the Ninoy Aquino International Airport can withstand a powerful quake like the one that shook Japan Friday. He said that while the NAIA survived a powerful quake in 1990, the structure is already 28 years old. "I don't want to speculate," he said. But he said the NAIA conducts regular quake drills, though these are controlled so as not to scare passengers. — LBG, GMA News