ASEAN Summit Flight Cancellations: The Manila and Cebu Flights Cut From November 14 to 18

Philippine Airlines has listed 110 flight entries as canceled or rescheduled from 14 to 18 November 2026 for the ASEAN Summit in Manila, and Cebu appears in more of them than any other destination. Here is which flights, what passengers are owed, and how the Metro Manila holiday changes the weekend.

Reported by Suroy Newsdesk. Edited by Janette Arceo. Editorial standards. Updated 5 November 2026.

Photo · Suroy.ph · NAIA, Pasay, January 2025, from the Suroy.ph archive

The 49th ASEAN Summit runs from 16 to 18 November 2026, mostly at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay. To make room for arriving delegations, the Civil Aeronautics Board told airlines to expect temporary flight and airport operational adjustments, and its executive director, Carmelo Arcilla, said more than 100 flights could be canceled across the period.

The Manila and Cebu route takes the biggest share of the cuts. If you are flying between the two cities that week, check your booking now rather than at the airport.

The advisory lists each flight as canceled or rescheduled without saying which, and it does not give new times. A flight number on this list may still operate at a different hour. A flight not on it may still change. The booking itself is the only reliable answer.

Philippine Airlines: 110 entries, Cebu hit hardest

PAL’s advisory, posted on 30 October, lists 110 flight entries for 14 to 18 November: 94 domestic and 16 international. A round trip counts as one entry, so the number of individual departures is higher. Cebu appears in 16 entries, more than any other destination. Monday, 16 November, is the heaviest day with 28 entries.

The airline says affected passengers will be told by email and text message. Do not wait for the message. Open Manage My Booking on the PAL website with your booking reference and check the flight status directly.

Cebu Pacific and AirAsia

Cebu Pacific canceled flights on selected domestic and international routes for 14 to 18 November. Its international cuts include Manila to Bangkok, Brunei, Dubai, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Sapporo. It has not published a full list or a total. Spokesperson Carmina Romero said on 29 October that every affected passenger had been told and re-accommodated, and that no further cancellations are planned.

AirAsia Philippines said it had received no cancellation advice and has no cancellations for the summit.

What you are owed if your flight is canceled

The Civil Aeronautics Board says passengers on a summit cancellation are entitled to one of three options, free of charge:

1. A full refund.
2. Rebooking onto another flight, subject to seat availability.
3. Conversion of the fare into a travel fund.

What you are not owed: the hotel night, the ferry ticket or the tour you booked around the flight. The CAB’s position is that the airlines are not liable for those costs because the cancellations are not directly their doing. If your trip has non-refundable pieces on the far end, rebook first and move those second.

One trap: do not cancel the flight yourself before checking whether it is on the list. A voluntary cancellation follows your fare’s normal rules, which can mean a penalty on a ticket that would otherwise have been refunded in full.

The Metro Manila holiday, 16 to 18 November

Malacañang declared Monday to Wednesday, 16 to 18 November, special non-working days in Metro Manila only. The order was signed on 17 September. With the weekend in front of it, that is five days off in a row for anyone working in the capital, and it lands on the same days the airlines have the fewest seats.

For a Manila resident who wants to spend the break in Cebu, the cleanest move is to fly out on Friday evening, 13 November, before the cuts start, and come back on Thursday, 19 November, after they end. Fares on those shoulder days will move as rebooked passengers fill them, so book early. The non-working days do not apply in Cebu, where it is a normal working week.

Getting to NAIA during the summit

The PICC sits a short drive from the airport, and the roads around it are closed. Partial closures began on 24 October and total closures run from 9 to 18 November, covering Buendia Avenue, J.W. Diokno Boulevard, Vicente Sotto Street, Pedro Bukaneg Street, Atang Dela Rama Street, Magdalena Jalandoni Street and the area around the PICC. Motorists are told to avoid Macapagal Boulevard, Diokno Boulevard and parts of Roxas Boulevard.

Leave earlier than you normally would, expect convoys, and allow extra time at check-in and security. Coming from Cebu, the closures matter only if your Manila stop takes you through Pasay.

Planning a longer trip around the holidays? Read when to book Christmas flights home and the December long weekends, and if you are coming to Cebu, what the El Niño means for your trip.

Frequently asked questions

Which flights are canceled for the ASEAN Summit?

Philippine Airlines listed 110 flight entries for 14 to 18 November 2026, with Cebu the most affected destination. Cebu Pacific canceled selected domestic and international flights but has not published a total. AirAsia says it has none.

Are Manila to Cebu flights affected?

Yes. PAL’s list includes Manila and Cebu flights on all five days, including PR 2857 and PR 2858. Check your booking on the airline’s website.

Can I get a refund?

Yes. The CAB says passengers on a canceled flight can choose a full refund, a free rebooking or a travel fund. Airlines are not required to cover hotels or other costs.

Are November 16 to 18 holidays?

They are special non-working days in Metro Manila only. Cebu and the rest of the country work as usual.

When is the ASEAN Summit in Manila?

The 49th ASEAN Summit and related meetings run from 16 to 18 November 2026, mainly at the PICC in Pasay City.

Sources

Philippine Airlines flight advisory, 30 October 2026 (via astig.ph and Jon to the World, 2 November). Civil Aeronautics Board advisory, 26 October 2026, and Carmelo Arcilla (via Philippine News Agency, 29 October). Cebu Pacific, Carmina Romero (via Philippine News Agency, 29 October; The Philippine Star, 29 October). AirAsia Philippines (via astig.ph, 2 November). Malacañang declaration of 16 to 18 November as special non-working days in Metro Manila, signed 17 September (via The Philippine Star, 23 September). PICC road closures (via The Philippine Star, 29 October). Checked 5 November 2026.