Over 300 flights to be adjusted for ASEAN summit; free booking, refunds assured

MORE than 300 domestic flights will be canceled or rescheduled starting November 14 as the government enforces enhanced security and operational measures for the upcoming ASEAN Summit in Metro Manila, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon announced Tuesday.

Speaking alongside officials from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), and major airlines, Dizon explained that the adjustments are necessary to manage the arrival and departure of heads of state and government attending the high‑level gathering. The disruptions will begin when the first batch of foreign leaders arrives and continue until all summit delegates have departed the country.

Dizon emphasized that not all of the 300 affected flights will be canceled; many will be rescheduled to different time slots to minimize the impact on passengers. To ease the inconvenience, all travelers with affected bookings are entitled to free rebooking, a full refund, or travel credits — with no additional fees or penalties applied. The policy covers flights operated by Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and AirAsia, which have all committed to implementing the adjustments smoothly and communicating changes to passengers directly.

Travelers are advised to regularly check their airline’s official channels for updates on their specific flights as the summit period approaches. The DOTr and CAAP noted that coordination with airport authorities and security agencies is ongoing to ensure the highest level of safety and efficiency throughout the event. Further details on the exact schedule of flight changes and peak disruption periods will be released as they are finalized.