*Note: Registrations for these flights closed on 11:59pm 15 April, 2020. Additional flights have been organised for 28 April, 2020.*
READ: Additional repatriation flights to Melbourne and Sydney for stranded Australians in the Philippines
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The Australian Embassy, in coordination with Philippine Airlines, has set-up a special flight to bring home stranded Australian citizens and PR card holders to Melbourne.
The dedicated user-pays-flight from Manila to Melbourne is scheduled on Saturday, 18 April 2020 at 8.30pm.
A repatriation flight is also being organised for Sydney and Brisbane on the same date.
From Thursday 16 April, PAL will contact passengers in order of registration and they ask that passengers will be ready to answer their phone.
Flights are for Australian citizens, permanent residents, and their immediate families.
This includes sweeper flights to Manila from Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Caticlan, Cebu, Davao, Dumaguete, Iloilo City, Puerto Princesa, Siargao, Tacloban and Tagbilaran (Bohol). Sweeper flights will transit through either Cebu or Davao then on to Manila. Details of these flights will be provided by PAL.
Manila to Melbourne economy tickets are USD 625*. Economy tickets from regional centres to Melbourne are USD 775 – you cannot terminate your journey in Manila.
The Australian Embassy states “These flights will probably be the best option for you to return to Australia and for many the only option for the foreseeable future.”
All flight arrangements will be made by Philippine Airlines, not by the Embassy. PAL will contact you to arrange payment and ticketing after you have registered for the flights. Please be patient as this will take some time.
Note: Passengers with confirmed tickets (purchased directly from PAL) on cancelled or future Philippine Airlines flights to Australia are entitled to use the ticket value towards this flight:
READ: Filipino passport holders in Australia wishing to return to the Philippines
Transport to airport and problem with checkpoints
If you choose to purchase a ticket on one of these flights you need to make arrangements for your transport to the airport that you will depart from.
The Australian Embassy is working with the relevant provincial and local authorities to ensure movement through checkpoints and will provide an Embassy letter for you to show to Philippine authorities to facilitate your movement. You will need to carry a hardcopy of your ticket to get through any checkpoints – an e-copy may not be enough.
If there are issues with your visa
The Bureau of Immigration will be available at the terminal in Manila (NAIA) to resolve any visa issues.
Please note if you have overstayed your visa prior to the lockdown you should contact the Bureau of Immigration in advance as these issues may not be able to be resolved at the airport. Contact Immigration Helpline PH offices: http://www.immigration.gov.ph/con…/other-immigration-offices
Call: +63 2 8465 2400 or email binoc_immigration@hotmail.com; xinfo@immigration.gov.ph; and immigPH@gmail.com
Do you plan to travel with an immediate family member?
If you wish to be accompanied by an immediate family member who is not a permanent resident or Australian citizen and does not currently hold a valid visa, they will need to apply as soon as possible.
Once they have applied they will need to email the immigration.manila@dfat.gov.au mailbox with the Subject ‘URGENT Visa Application – PAL Repatriation flight’. Once the visa has been granted, an exemption to Australia’s travel ban will need to be sought. To do this please visit https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/coming-australia and complete the online request form. We cannot guarantee a visa will be issued in time for these flights.
Personal Protective Equipment
You will be required to wear a mask during the flight.
Mandatory 14-day quarantine in Australia
Once you arrive, you will be required to undertake a mandatory 14-day quarantine at designated facilities (for example, a hotel), in your port of arrival.
Travellers will be transported directly to designated facilities after appropriate immigration, customs, and enhanced health checks. Read more: https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/COVID-19-australian-travel… 🩺
Onward travel following quarantine
A repatriation flight is also being organised for Sydney:
READ: PAL offers special flight to Sydney for stranded Australians in the Philippines
For those from other states, you be required after your mandatory quarantine period to make your own arrangements to your end destination.
READ: Filipino passport holders in Australia wishing to return to the Philippines
