(UPDATE) MANILA, Philippines - Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Cebu Pacific have canceled or diverted several flights due to operational restrictions at select Middle East stations.
On Saturday evening, PAL said that it was closely monitoring the evolving security situation in the region following recent developments.
PAL emphasized that the safety and security of its passengers and crew remained its highest priority.
In response to these operational restrictions, PAL has implemented the following adjustments:
Flight diversions (Return to origin)
PR654 (Manila-Riyadh): Departed Manila on Saturday, Feb.28, 2026; will return to Manila with an expected arrival at 10:40 p.m. local time.
PR658 (Manila-Dubai): Departed Manila on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026; will return to Manila with an expected arrival at 9:52 p.m. local time.
Canceled flights
Feb. 28, 2026
- PR684 (Manila-Doha)
- PR655 (Riyadh-Manila)
- PR659 (Dubai-Manila)
March 1, 2026
- PR685 (Doha-Manila)
The airline said it was actively coordinating with aviation authorities, airport operators, and relevant government agencies regarding airspace and operation advisories.
"We are assisting affected passengers with rebooking, rerouting, or refunds in accordance with PAL policies. Passengers are advised to check the status of their flights through the PAL website, mobile app, or official social media channels before proceeding to the airport," the airline said.
PAL added that all operational decisions were guided by authoritative risk assessments and civil aviation safety protocols.
For further assistance, passengers may visit the official website for real-time updates or contact PAL Customer Support.
In an advisory on their social media page, Cebu Pacific said Flight 5J 14 to Dubai was turned back and was currently en route to Manila, with an expected arrival of 10:45 p.m.
Affected passengers have been informed via email and provided with the following options through the Manage Booking portal on the CEB website https://www.cebupacificair.com/manage-booking.
Cebu Pacific added that affected passengers may opt to rebook their flights, convert the value of their tickets into a travel fund that can be used for new bookings, add-ons, or a full refund.
Passengers going to and from Dubai on March 2, as well as those flying to and from Riyadh on March 1 and 2, were also given a chance to rebook without charges or convert their tickets to a travel fund.
