Flag-carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) makes history by completing a successful repatriation flight (PR8117) from Barbados to Clark International Airport, one of the country’s premier gateways.
The flight route Barbados – Clark via Vancouver is a first-of-its kind for PAL. The special flight’s touchdown is also Clark’s first time to accept an international flight from Barbados.
PAL SVP Chief Strategy and Planning Officer Commercial Dexter Lee said,
“This is PAL’s third repatriation mission to and from Barbados, but the first to make a historic landing in Clark. Each journey is a homecoming for our country’s modern day heroes. It is a privilege to bring our countrymen home.
“PAL’s working collaboration with Clark authorities and the InterAgency Task Force on Covid19 (IATF) has enabled the flag carrier to be the first airline to use Clark International Airport for repatriation missions,” he added.
The reparriation mission departed from Manila last June 04 via PR8102 at 9:59AM and made a technical stop in Los Angeles before proceeding to the Carribean island nation to pick up 345 stranded Filipino seafarers of the Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd.
The flight departed from Bridgetown in Barbados and made a technical stop in Vancouver, before continuing its journey to Clark.
“Clark International Airport (CRK) is proud to support the government’s aim to bring home our stranded overseas Filipinos. We commend Philippine Airlines in helping us achieve this milestone. This marks a momentous event for CRK and we look forward to more such flights in the coming weeks,” said Bi Yong Chungunco, Chief Executive Officer of LIPAD Corporation who is in charge of the operations and management of Clark International Airport.
In command of the repatriation flights were Captains Karlvin King Listana (MNL-LAX / PR8102), Joseph Dee Tuan Bio and Rudolf Belmonte (LAX-BGI-YVR / PR8102), and Patrick Tabuena (YVR-CRK / PR8117; CRK-MNL /PR5117).
The OFWs upon arrival at Clark underwent stringent quarantine protocols set by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) in coordination with Clark International Airport.
Upon disembarkation from the aircraft, the passengers were given thermal scanning and collecting of HDC.
If a passenger’s temperature is higher than 37.8C, they will immediately be isolated and to be transported to JB Lingad Hospital.
For the rest of the passengers, they are required to go through a testing orientation at the second level gates where a list of designated facilities will also be provided.
From there, they will sign an Oath of Undertaking, and immediately proceed to swab testing. They will be assisted to their designated quarantine facility, where they will be monitored on a daily basis until the results are released.
Total block time was 54hours and 46min. while average flying time is estimated at 40 hours total.