(PNA file photo)
MANILA – Cebu Pacific (CEB) is piloting the antigen test before boarding among passengers bound for Hong Kong, beginning Sept. 17 to Sept. 30.
CEB spokesperson Carmina Romero told the Philippine News Agency on Friday that this initiative is on top of the requirements set by Hong Kong authorities. Currently, Hong Kong - bound passengers are required to have a negative RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) test result 72 hours prior to their flight schedule.
The test before boarding (TBB) is part of the airline's multi-layered approach to ensure every passenger en route to Hong Kong will fly safely, Romero added.
The airline will shoulder the cost of the antigen test until Sept. 30.
"We will assess during the two-week implementation of TBB its effectiveness in boosting our safety measures," Romero said when asked if either the free antigen test or this requirement will be extended or not.
Meanwhile, passengers may head to the Philippine Airport Diagnostic Laboratory on the second floor of NAIA Terminal 3 pre-departure area, four hours before their flight schedule for the antigen test.
Testing for Hong Kong- bound passengers is six times weekly, from 1:30 a.m. to 3:30 a.m. Results may be released within 30 minutes.
Those who will test positive and those who are unable to take the antigen test will not be allowed to check in.
They, however, can rebook their flights with no additional cost. They can also store the ticket value in a virtual CEB wallet valid for two years for use in booking a new flight or for paying additional baggage allowance, among others.
Passengers may also opt for a refund, which could be up to two months to process. (PNA)
CEB spokesperson Carmina Romero told the Philippine News Agency on Friday that this initiative is on top of the requirements set by Hong Kong authorities. Currently, Hong Kong - bound passengers are required to have a negative RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) test result 72 hours prior to their flight schedule.
The test before boarding (TBB) is part of the airline's multi-layered approach to ensure every passenger en route to Hong Kong will fly safely, Romero added.
The airline will shoulder the cost of the antigen test until Sept. 30.
"We will assess during the two-week implementation of TBB its effectiveness in boosting our safety measures," Romero said when asked if either the free antigen test or this requirement will be extended or not.
Meanwhile, passengers may head to the Philippine Airport Diagnostic Laboratory on the second floor of NAIA Terminal 3 pre-departure area, four hours before their flight schedule for the antigen test.
Testing for Hong Kong- bound passengers is six times weekly, from 1:30 a.m. to 3:30 a.m. Results may be released within 30 minutes.
Those who will test positive and those who are unable to take the antigen test will not be allowed to check in.
They, however, can rebook their flights with no additional cost. They can also store the ticket value in a virtual CEB wallet valid for two years for use in booking a new flight or for paying additional baggage allowance, among others.
Passengers may also opt for a refund, which could be up to two months to process. (PNA)
