AirAsia Philippines announced that it will abide by and implement the Department Order 2022-001 issued by the Philippine Department of Transportation in setting new transportation guidelines for fully vaccinated and unvaccinated guests.
The Department Order, issued in January 11, 2022, implemented a “no vax/ no ride” policy, which prohibits unvaccinated passengers from using public transportation whilst the National Capital Region is under Alert Level 3.
The airline said that starting January 17, 2022, it will continue to fly fully vaccinated guests from its Manila hub. Unvaccinated passengers with purpose of essential travel from Metro Manila, such as those with medical conditions that prevent full COVID-19 vaccination, will still be allowed to fly, provided that they present a duly signed medical certificate that includes the full name and contact details of their physician.
“From the onset of the pandemic, AirAsia has always been working closely with the IATF, DOTr and its attached agencies along with medical experts in the implementation of multi-layered approaches to safety in the aviation sector,” AirAsia Philippines CEO Ricky Isla said in a statement.
“AirAsia Philippines considers this initiative from the Department of Transportation as an effective tool to encourage every Filipino to take the shot, and get an added layer of protection against any emerging COVID-19 variant.”
Meanwhile, the country’s flag carrier Philippine Airlines have also expressed support for the Department Order.
“We laud the DOTr’s initiative to help the Filipino public embark on essential travels during the current crisis,” Philippine Airlines president and chief operating officer Gilbert Santa Maria said to local media.
While Philippine Airlines expressed its support for the government’s initiative, it hasn’t officially announced that it will implement the order.