The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) is ordering airlines to fully follow the Air Passenger Bill of Rights (APBR) and uphold passenger entitlements as flight disruptions are expected for the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit running November 16‑18 in Manila.
CAB Officer‑in‑Charge Maria Elben Moro issued the advisory to make sure passengers hit by flight cancellations or schedule shifts get timely notifications, assistance, and all benefits guaranteed under the APBR. Airport and airspace restrictions will be in place to manage the arrival and departure of ASEAN delegates, creating possible adjustments to regular flight schedules.
Moro instructed carriers to carefully review their flight schedules, coordinate closely with airport authorities, and only make reasonable flight changes to keep passenger inconvenience as low as possible. Airlines must send out real‑time flight status alerts to affected passengers through every available communication channel at the earliest possible moment.
The regulator stressed that airlines must strictly abide by the updated APBR rules covering passenger rights and entitlements for cancellations and schedule adjustments, separate from any extra goodwill support the carriers may choose to provide. Sufficient staff should also be on standby to give timely assistance to stranded or affected passengers.
Any flight adjustment approved by the CAB will still undergo further review and verification to confirm whether cancellations stem directly from summit‑related airport and airspace operational limits. The board will check for a clear causal link between the operational restrictions and the disruption before classifying cancellations as summit‑related adjustments.
For passengers, the CAB recommends regularly monitoring flight status and checking official government and airline advisories for real‑time updates. Travelers are also advised to coordinate directly with their airlines to arrange alternative travel plans and allot extra time for check‑in, security screening, and other airport procedures.
