Philippine Airlines has suspended scheduled passenger services to three Middle East destinations, citing an unstable security environment and airspace uncertainties that the carrier says make continued operations unsafe for now.
Flights between Manila and Riyadh, Dubai, and Doha are grounded until March 28, 2026, under what PAL described as a precautionary measure. The suspension covers flights PR 654/655 on the Manila-Riyadh route, PR 658/659 to and from Dubai, and PR 684/685 between Manila and Doha. An additional PR 685 Doha-Manila service on March 29 has also been cancelled.
“The safety of our passengers, crew, and aircraft remains Philippine Airlines’ highest priority,” the airline said, adding that suspending the services was “the most prudent course of action while conditions remain fluid.”
OFWs make up a significant portion of travelers on these routes, and PAL acknowledged their particular vulnerability to the disruption. The airline said its customer service teams are handling rebooking requests through its website, contact center, and ticket offices. Affected passengers may choose between free rebooking once flights resume, conversion of tickets to travel credits, or full refunds.
PAL said it is coordinating with aviation authorities to determine when services can safely restart. Cargo operations on the affected routes have also been disrupted, with the airline working with logistics partners to explore alternative routing.
The March 28 date, PAL noted, represents its current operational planning horizon — not a guaranteed resumption date.
