A powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck off the coast of Mindanao has forced Cebu Pacific to ground multiple flights serving General Santos City, with the budget carrier releasing its third consecutive advisory on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, detailing fresh cancellations set to take effect the following day.
Third Advisory Issued in Ongoing Crisis
Cebu Pacific released Advisory #3 at 5:00 PM Philippine time on June 10, 2026, confirming that flight operations to and from General Santos City would continue to be severely affected on June 11. According to Cebu Pacific, the advisory represents the latest in a series of updates the airline has been compelled to issue as it grapples with the sustained operational fallout from one of the strongest seismic events to hit the southern Philippines in recent memory.
The airline's string of advisories reflects the scale and persistence of disruptions triggered by the earthquake, which has forced airport authorities and aviation operators to conduct safety assessments across affected Mindanao destinations.
Five Route Pairs Cancelled on June 11
According to the Cebu Pacific advisory, a total of five flight route pairs have been suspended for June 11, 2026. All cancellations involve General Santos City as either a departure or arrival point. The affected services are as follows:
- 5J 251/252: Cebu – General Santos – Cebu
- 5J 991/992: Manila – General Santos – Manila
- 5J 993/994: Manila – General Santos – Manila
- 5J 995/996: Manila – General Santos – Manila
- 5J 997/998: Manila – General Santos – Manila
The suspended services originate from two major hubs — Cebu and Manila — with General Santos City as the common endpoint across all cancelled routes. The simultaneous grounding of four separate Manila-General Santos round-trip flights alongside one Cebu-General Santos service highlights the breadth of operational disruption Cebu Pacific is facing in the wake of the earthquake.
Passengers Already Notified via Email
Cebu Pacific confirmed in its advisory that passengers booked on the cancelled flights have been notified by email. The airline directed all affected travelers to visit its Manage Booking portal at cebupacificair.com/manage-booking, where they can view and select from three available remedies depending on their travel needs.
Rebooking, Travel Fund, or Full Refund Available
Cebu Pacific outlined three options for passengers whose flights have been cancelled. The first is Free Rebooking, which allows travelers to change their flight to a new date at no additional cost, as long as the new travel date is within 30 days of the original booking. Passengers who opt to rebook beyond that 30-day period will be required to pay any applicable fare difference.
The second option is a Travel Fund, which converts the value of the cancelled ticket into credits stored in a virtual CEB wallet. According to Cebu Pacific, these credits can be applied toward future flight bookings or used to purchase optional services such as extra baggage or seat selection, offering passengers flexibility over how they redeem their fare value.
The third available option is a Full Refund, under which passengers may claim a complete reimbursement of their ticket price. Cebu Pacific stated that all three options are accessible through the Manage Booking portal on its official website.
Situation Remains Fluid; More Disruptions Possible
Cebu Pacific cautioned passengers that the situation is still evolving and that additional changes to flight schedules may be announced as conditions on the ground continue to be assessed. The airline's advisory explicitly noted that the earthquake's impact on flight operations is ongoing, leaving open the possibility of further cancellations in subsequent updates.
The carrier strongly urged all passengers with upcoming travel involving Mindanao destinations to regularly monitor flight statuses through its dedicated page at cebupacificair.com/flight-status. Cebu Pacific also reminded travelers to ensure their contact information is current via the Manage Booking portal so that they receive all future notifications and reminders promptly.
Online Channels Available for Passenger Inquiries
For travelers who require further assistance beyond what is available through the online portal, Cebu Pacific directed inquiries to its Online Chat Support feature on the official CEB website. The airline also confirmed that support is available through its verified accounts on Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter.
In its advisory, Cebu Pacific appealed to affected passengers for patience as the airline works to restore normal operations. The airline stated it would continue to issue updates as the situation develops.
A Major Seismic Event Disrupts Southern Philippine Aviation
The root cause of the disruptions is a magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck off Mindanao's coastline — a seismic event of sufficient power to cause extensive infrastructure damage across a wide area. Earthquakes at this magnitude are classified as major seismic events and are capable of compromising critical infrastructure such as airport runways, ground-handling facilities, roads, and port structures.
While Cebu Pacific has not detailed the specific infrastructure damage at General Santos International Airport, the concentration of flight cancellations on General Santos routes suggests that safety concerns at the airport and in its surrounding area remain unresolved. The full extent of physical damage in the General Santos City area has yet to be publicly disclosed as of the airline's most recent advisory.
General Santos City: A Key Southern Mindanao Gateway
General Santos City is situated in the Soccsksargen region of Mindanao and functions as a major air travel hub for the southern part of the island. Its international airport serves a broad catchment of both domestic and international passengers, making any sustained disruption there significant for regional connectivity.
The scale of Cebu Pacific's cancellations on General Santos routes — spanning services from both Cebu and Manila — points to persistent concerns over the safety and operability of aviation activities in the area as earthquake-related assessments continue.
Cebu Pacific to Continue Issuing Updates
As of 5:00 PM on June 10, 2026, Advisory #3 remains the most recent official communication from Cebu Pacific regarding the earthquake-related flight disruptions. The airline confirmed it will continue releasing updates as the situation progresses. Passengers with travel plans involving General Santos City or other Mindanao destinations in the coming days are encouraged by Cebu Pacific to closely follow all official airline communication channels, including the CEB website and verified social media pages on Facebook and X.
Originally reported by: breakingnewsnegor.com