Philippine airlines cut jobs as COVID-19 hits travel demand

Domestic airlines in the Philippines are cutting jobs and reducing operations due to President Duterte's measures to contain COVID-19.

Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific have already cut about 500 jobs since February and announced further cost-cutting measures as travel demand has plummeted.

Cebu Pacific is laying off over 150 newly hired cabin crew members, with their last day on March 19, due to the cancellation of flights in Manila, China, and South Korea.

The airline stated that this decision was necessary to cope with reduced flight operations caused by travel bans and government warnings against nonessential travel.