Philippine Air pays 80% of US$329mil refund requests

Mass cancellation: Philippine Airlines has cancelled more than 60,000 flights since March, affecting over 1.3 million passengers.

MANILA: Philippine Airlines Inc said it has received refund requests totalling 15.9 billion pesos (US$329mil) amid the coronavirus pandemic, seeking customers’ understanding as it has only paid back 80% of that amount.

The carrier owned by billionaire Lucio Tan has cancelled more than 60,000 flights since March, affecting over 1.3 million passengers, it said in a statement. Asia’s oldest airline has restored nearly 15% of its local and international network and plans to ramp up flights as travel and quarantine restrictions ease.