Philippine travel ban on UAE, 9 other countries extended until September, but gov't announces date to lift ban

Updated on September 4 DUBAI – The Philippine-imposed entry ban on travelers from the UAE and nine other countries has been extended until September 5, authorities announced on Wednesday (September 1). September 4 update: Philippines lifts travel ban on UAE starting September 6 Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque posted an announcement from the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) that "travel restrictions currently in place in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, UAE, Oman, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia are extended until September 5, 2021". The travel ban will be lifted on September 6. Until the travel ban is lifted on September 6, commercial flight passengers transiting from these countries within 14 days of their trip to the Philippines will be denied entry. However, repatriation flights and special Bayanihan flights to bring home stranded Filipinos will continue throughout September, exempting returning Filipino passengers from the ban. Philippine-based airlines Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific have confirmed that all commercial flights are cancelled during the period, but that they have been granted permission to deploy special Bayanihan flights. According to Philippine Airlines, it will deploy flight PR659 from Dubai to Manila on September 2, 4, 6, 8, 14, 16, 18 and 22. Meanwhile, Cebu Pacific will operate flight 5J15 from Dubai on September 4, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27 and 29. While repatriation flights are paid by the Philippine government to bring home distressed Filipinos, seats on Bayanihan flights are paid by travelers. As Expatmedia.net reported, the first such Bayanihan flight left Dubai on July 29 and landed in Davao on July 30 to bring home more than 300 passengers. One of the passengers on the flight told Expatmedia.net that he paid more than Dh4,000 for a seat on the one-way trip. Read full report here Since May, the Philippines has barred entry of travelers from the UAE, India Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Oman to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Only passengers on special Bayanihan flights and repatriation flights are exempted from the travel ban, but they need to present a negative PCR test result valid within 48 hours ahead of their flight. Bayanihan flight passengers must also secure a 14-day hotel booking for quarantine purposes. ICA/Expat Media
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