Philippine Airlines (PAL), Cebu Pacific, and AirAsia Philippines have released travel advisories for the upcoming Holy Week period (April 13-20, 2025), anticipating heavy passenger traffic at airports nationwide.
PAL advises passengers to arrive 3-4 hours before domestic flights and 4-5 hours before international departures at NAIA Terminal 2 and Terminal 1, respectively. The flag carrier emphasizes utilizing their online check-in services available 24 hours to 1 hour before scheduled flights.
For international travelers, PAL reminds passengers to ensure passports remain valid for at least six months from the travel date. The airline also stresses the importance of matching the name on tickets exactly with passport information.
Cebu Pacific has issued similar guidelines, recommending passengers arrive three hours before domestic and four hours before international flights. The budget carrier advises travelers to check terminal assignments carefully, noting that 5J flights operate from NAIA Terminal 3, while most DG and T6 flights utilize Terminal 2.
5J is the IATA code for Cebu Pacific, while DG and T6 are for Cebgo and AirSWIFT Airlines, respectively.
“Check-in counters close 45 minutes before departure for domestic flights and one hour for international flights,” Cebu Pacific stated in their advisory. The airline also reminded passengers about their self-tag luggage system available at select domestic destinations.
Meanwhile, AirAsia Philippines has activated its “#AlwaysREADY Ngayong Semana Santa 2025” initiative, expecting over 100,000 travelers during the Holy Week period.
Transportation Security Administrator Undersecretary Arthur Bisnar, AirAsia Philippines CEO Ricky Isla, and Spokesperson Steve Dailisan led the inspection of check-in counters at NAIA Terminal 3 to assess preparations last Thursday.
All travelers flying with Philippine carriers should note the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) regulations regarding power banks. Only devices not exceeding 100 watt-hours (Wh) are allowed onboard without special approval, while power banks between 100Wh and 160Wh require airline authorization at check-in.
The three carriers emphasized the importance of online check-in to avoid long queues and recommended passengers regularly check flight status updates through their respective websites and mobile applications.
For added convenience during the busy travel period, the airlines reminded passengers about baggage policies and the benefits of purchasing prepaid baggage allowances, which are significantly cheaper than airport rates.
Travelers are also advised to allow extra time for road traffic, particularly in Manila and Cebu, where congestion is expected to increase significantly during the holiday period.
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