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The Civil Aeronautics Board requests local airlines to provide flexible flight options to affected passengers and allocate cargo space for humanitarian relief operations to areas hit by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck off Sarangani in Mindanao on June 8
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Affected flights are those going to and from the General Santos Airport
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CAB asks carriers to give available cargo space for the free transport of relief goods, subject to safety, operational limitations, and airline procedures
The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) has requested local airlines to provide flexible flight options to affected passengers and allocate cargo space for humanitarian relief operations to areas hit by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck off Sarangani in Mindanao on June 8.
CAB in an advisory on June 8 asked local airlines operating at General Santos International Airport – Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, PAL Express – to provide “flexible and compassionate passenger flight options, such as but not limited to full refund, rebooking without fee, waiver of cancellation fees, or conversion of ticket to travel fund/voucher to all affected passengers.”
CAB also requests airlines to support response operations by allocating available cargo space for the free transport of relief goods, subject to safety, operational limitations, and airline procedures. CAB said this is to help speed up the delivery of critical aid and ease the hardship of affected communities.
READ: Earthquake off Sarangani disrupts flights, sea travel
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines earlier said operations at General Santos Airport is limited to government, military, and humanitarian flights from June 8 to June 11.
As of 7:00 p.m. of June 8, PAL has cancelled all flights to and from General Santos Airport scheduled from June 8-11, 2026. PAL said affected passengers may rebook their flights, reroute the flights via Davao (free rebooking or rerouting within 60 days, subject to availability), convert the value of their tickets into travel credits, or request a full refund without penalties, subject to applicable policies.
Cebu Pacific also cancelled flights to and from General Santos Airport from June 8 to June 10. Affected passengers have the option to free rebooking without fare difference for travel up to 30 days from original flight date; store the amount in a virtual Cebu Pacific wallet and use this to either book a new flight or pay for add-ons; or a full refund of the ticket.
The earthquake hit at 7:37 a.m. on June 8 at the southern-central coast of Mindanao, with its epicenter off Sarangani province. It triggered tsunami alerts in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Palau, Japan, Taiwan and Papua New Guinea, which were cancelled or downgraded hours later.
As of the morning of June 9, at least 37 casualties have been recorded, with 203 others injured, 12 reported missing, and some 10,000 families displaced, according to the Office of Civil Defense.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered concerned government agencies to act immediately in addressing issues arising from the Mindanao earthquake. Presidential Communications Office undersecretary and Palace press officer Claire Castro also assured the government has sufficient funds for response operations.
