(UPDATE) RP airlines cancel flights due to 'Pepeng'

Major airlines in the Philippines have postponed their local flights in anticipation of wind-strong typhoon "Pepeng" (international code name Parma).

In separate statements, flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) and budget airlines Cebu Pacific and Zest Airways (ZestAir) have cancelled some of their local flights for Friday and Saturday as "Pepeng" is set to make landfall on October 3.

As of 1:30 p.m., PAL said it has postponed the following local flights for Friday, October 2:

- Manila-Legaspi-Manila: PR 277, PR 278
- Manila-Naga-Manila: PR 279, PR 280, PR 261, PR 262
- Manila-Catarman-Manila: PR 029, PR 230

On the other hand, ZestAir said the following local flights for Friday are cancelled:

- Manila-Catarman-Manila: Z2 591, Z2 590
- Manila-Virac-Manila: Z2 650, Z2 651
- Manila-Naga-Manila: Z2 818, Z2 819

For its part, Cebu Pacific said it has postponed the following local flights for Friday:

- Manila-Virac-Manila: 5J-821, 5J-822
- Manila-Naga-Manila: 5J-519, 5J-520, 5J-521, 5J-522, 5J-523, 5J-524
- Manila-Legaspi-Manila: 5J-323, 5J-324, 5J-325, 5J-326, 5J-327, 5J-328
- Manila-Catarman-Manila: 5J-711, 5J-712

Meanwhile, Cebu Pacific said the following local flights for Saturday will be postponed due to the typhoon:

- Manila-Legaspi-Manila: 5J-172, 5J-173, 5J-325, 5J-326, 5J-323, 5J-324, 5J-327, 5J-328
- Manila-Catarman-Manila: 5J-711, 5J-712
- Manila-Virac-Manila: 5J-821, 5J-822
- Manila-Naga-Manila: 5J-519, 5J-520, 5J-522, 5J-523, 5J-544

Cebu Pacific said affected guests may rebook their flights for travel within the next 7 days without additional charges.

The company advised them to call (02) 702-0888 or (032) 230-8888 or visit their website for more updates on their flights and details for re-accommodation.

The government has already placed the entire Philippines under a state of calamity as "Pepeng" is expected to make landfall on Saturday.

Just last week, tropical storm "Ondoy" dumped the heaviest rains in more than 40 years in Metro Manila and its neighboring provinces, leaving 293 people dead and 42 people missing.

Airlines also had to cancel flights for safety reasons. (abs-cbnnews)