If you are flying in or out of Manila between Nov. 13 and 19, check your booking today. More than 300 flights to and from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have been cancelled or moved to make room for leaders arriving for the 49th ASEAN Summit, and Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific and AirAsia Philippines are all affected. The good news is that every affected passenger can choose a free rebooking, a full refund or a travel fund, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

Here is what is happening, which flights and dates are hit, and how to get through the week with as little stress as possible.

Why so many Manila flights are being cancelled

The Philippines is hosting the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Metro Manila, with the main venue at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City, close to the airport. The U.S. Embassy in Manila says the meetings run Nov. 16 to 18, and the government has declared those three days special non-working days in the National Capital Region.

Most delegations will land at NAIA. Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said in a Nov. 10 briefing that the first foreign delegates are expected on Nov. 14, which is why the flight changes start before the summit itself. According to Philstar, U.S. President Donald Trump and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva have been invited as “Guests of the Chair” for a Nov. 15 session, so security around the airport and Pasay will be especially tight.

How many flights are affected

The DOTr list released on Nov. 10 counts 313 affected flights, ABS-CBN reported:

• 175 domestic flights cancelled
• 80 domestic flights rescheduled
• 40 international flights cancelled
• 18 international flights rescheduled

Domestic routes take the biggest hit, so travellers heading home to the provinces or to beach islands this week are the most likely to see a change.

Which airlines and dates are hit

The DOTr breakdown, as summarized by PortCalls Asia, looks like this:

• Philippine Airlines (PAL): international and domestic flights from Nov. 14 to 18.
• Cebu Pacific: international flights from Nov. 14 to 18 and domestic flights from Nov. 13 to 19.
• AirAsia Philippines: international flights on Nov. 17 and domestic flights on Nov. 14, 16, 17 and 18.

Philippine Airlines

PAL’s list, published in full by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, includes domestic round trips between Manila and Cebu, Davao, Bacolod, Iloilo, Puerto Princesa, Zamboanga, General Santos, Cagayan de Oro, Butuan, Tacloban and Legazpi (Daraga) on several days. International cancellations include Manila–Hong Kong (PR 306/307), Manila–Melbourne (PR 209/210) and Manila–Riyadh (PR 654/655) on Nov. 14, and Manila–Jinjiang, Fujian (PR 356/357) on Nov. 15. Nov. 18 is the heaviest international day, with changes to flights to and from Bali (Denpasar), Sydney, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Incheon, Busan (Gimhae), Xiamen, Hong Kong and Melbourne.

Cebu Pacific

Cebu Pacific’s changes start a day earlier, on Nov. 13, with flights into Manila from Iloilo, Cebu and Davao. On Nov. 14 alone the list covers round trips between Manila and Bacolod, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Cauayan, Dumaguete, Daraga, General Santos, Iloilo, Laoag, Caticlan (for Boracay), Pagadian, Puerto Princesa, Roxas City, Tuguegarao and Zamboanga, plus several Cebu and Davao flights. Domestic changes continue through Nov. 19.

AirAsia Philippines

AirAsia’s list is shorter. It covers Manila–Tacloban flights on Nov. 14 and 16, and a busier Nov. 17 with Manila–Macau (Z2 092/093) and domestic flights to and from Tacloban, Caticlan, Kalibo, Cebu, Iloilo and Bacolod. On Nov. 18, flights into Manila from Iloilo and Caticlan are affected.

The first lists came out in late October and have been revised since, so treat any published list as a starting point. Your airline’s app, website or email is the final word on your flight.

Your options if your flight is cancelled or moved

Under the DOTr’s guidance, passengers on any affected flight can pick one of three options:

• Free rebooking to another date or flight, with no penalty.
• A full refund of the ticket.
• A travel fund (credit) for a future trip.

The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) has also told airlines to follow the Air Passenger Bill of Rights for affected passengers and to have enough staff on hand to help. Help desks are open in all NAIA terminals and at Clark and Mactan-Cebu airports, and the CAB runs a 24/7 hotline, PortCalls Asia reported. If you booked through a travel agent or an online booking site, contact them as well, since they may need to process the change.

If your trip connects onward to another country, ask the airline to rebook the whole journey on one ticket rather than fixing one leg at a time. Travellers who were already dealing with Gulf disruption should note that PAL’s Riyadh flights are on the list too; our guide to Saudi Arabia flight cancellations this month covers the other airlines still changing schedules there.

Getting to NAIA during summit week

Even if your flight is still on, the trip to the airport may take longer than usual. The airport operator, New NAIA Infra Corp., is running heightened security across all terminals from Nov. 13 to 18 and warned of temporary traffic restrictions, the Philippine News Agency reported.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) says there will be no widespread road closures, but four streets inside the PICC and Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) security zone are restricted from Nov. 9 to 18, and convoys will bring short stop-and-go pauses on major roads, according to Philstar’s traffic guide. The MMDA expects traffic to be particularly heavy from Nov. 12 to 14 because of convoy rehearsals and barrier work, and it advises avoiding Macapagal Boulevard, the World Trade Center area, Diokno Boulevard and parts of Roxas Boulevard. Number coding is suspended from Nov. 16 to 18.

A few practical tips:

• Check your flight status the night before and again before you leave home.
• Leave much earlier than normal, especially if your route passes through Pasay.
• Avoid the PICC and CCP area, and stay away from any demonstrations. The U.S. Embassy notes that some groups have announced protests during the summit.
• Keep your ID and booking details easy to reach, since security checks may be slower.

Should you change your plans?

If your travel dates are flexible, the simplest move is to avoid flying through Manila from Nov. 14 to 18 altogether. Clark and Cebu airports are expected to run normally, and Clark’s operator said it is ready to take diverted flights, so flying from one of them may be worth a look if it suits your route. If you were planning a quick escape from the city during the non-working days, a road trip to one of the budget-friendly beach getaways near Manila could be easier than flying. And if you have a big trip coming up, it is a good moment to review what your policy covers; our travel insurance tips explain what to look for.

FAQ

Which days are affected by the ASEAN Summit flight changes?

The DOTr list covers Nov. 13 to 19, 2026. Most changes fall between Nov. 14 and 18, with Cebu Pacific’s domestic changes running from Nov. 13 to 19.

Can I get a refund if my flight was cancelled for the summit?

Yes. Affected passengers can choose a full refund, free rebooking or a travel fund, according to the DOTr.

Are Clark and Cebu airports affected?

Normal operations are expected at Clark and Cebu, according to the Philippine News Agency, though flights between those airports and Manila may still be on the cancellation lists.

Is the U.S. Embassy in Manila open during the summit?

The embassy says it remains open for routine and emergency services, but it may change consular hours or appointments for Nov. 16 to 18 and asks visitors to watch its website.

This article is based on official advisories and news reports available on Nov. 13, 2026. Flight lists can change, so always confirm your flight with your airline.