Additional repatriation flights to Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane for stranded Australians in the Philippines

The Australian Embassy in Manila announced additional user-pays-flights from Manila-Melbourne, Manila-Sydney, Manila-Brisbane with Philippine Airlines have been organised for Tuesday, 28 April.

The first special flight organised from Manila to Melbourne on 18 April as well as to Sydney and Brisbane arrived on 19 April.

READ: Three special flights from Manila arrive in Australia on 19 April under difficult circumstances

These flights are available for Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate families that are stranded in the Philippines, for those who registered prior to 16 April.

Sweeper flights to Manila from Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Leyte, and Bohol will be available. These flights have been organised in conjunction with the British Embassy. Australians in other locations need to refer to the Australian Embassy’s updates on Facebook to determine how they can move to the airports in the above locations.

Note: The Embassy will not be accepting new registrations for these flights, however, if this changes, they will make an announcement on Facebook

PAL will contact passengers that have already registered and they ask that passengers will be prepared to answer their phone.

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.

There has been a high demand from the number of people who have registered to join the special flights to Australia. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, three days prior to closure of registration, over 1300 people registered their interest with the Australian Embassy for a repatriation flight to Australia.

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 will provide an Embassy letter for you to show to Philippine authorities to facilitate your movement. They have asked that passengers arrive at the airport early.

Travel times may be longer on the road, due to checkpoints. 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

Personal Protective Equipment

You will be required to wear a mask to gain entry to the airport, and the mask must be worn for the entire duration of the flight. 

Health Certificates

As reported by the Australian Embassy, “Health certificates will be required for those outside Metro Manila in Greater Luzon Regions 1, 2, 3,4a, 4b, 5. Those in the National Capital Region do not require health certificates.”

Other regions, including Cebu and Davao require a health certificate. Please contact your local barangay office for guidance on where to obtain a health clearance certificate.

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 on the Smartraveller website) 🩺

Onward travel following quarantine

For those from other states, you be required after your mandatory quarantine period to make your own arrangements to your end destination.

Flights from the Philippines to Perth and Adelaide cannot be arranged. The Australian Ambassador to the Philippines, Steven Robinson has stated that Australian authorities determine the destination of the flights back to Australia, based on the accommodation required for the mandatory 14-day quarantine.