France thanks PH for flying 406 French nationals home

Through a special flight at a negotiated rate guaranteed by Qatar Airways and organized by the French government, a significant number of French tourists stranded in the Philippines were able to return to France. (Pixabay photo)

MANILA – The French Embassy in Manila has thanked the Philippines for helping in the repatriation of some 406 French nationals affected by the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.

“The Embassy of France addresses its warmest gratitude to the Filipino authorities, most notably the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Tourism, the Department of Transportation, and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, as well as the administrators of the Cebu-Mactan International Airport and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, for the active and constant support that they extended in the organization of this flight and in the success of this operation,” the embassy said in a statement on March 25.

Through a special flight at a negotiated rate guaranteed by Qatar Airways and organized by the French government, a significant number of French tourists stranded in the Philippines were able to return to France.

“In the evening of March 24 to March 25, 406 French citizens contacted by the Embassy were able to return to their country from Cebu and Manila,” the embassy said.

Due to the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine, domestic flights have been suspended, leaving a number of Filipino and foreign tourists stranded in different parts of the country.

The embassy assured continued efforts to ensure that tourists from France and from other European countries would be able to return home “at the soonest possible time”.