PH Embassy in Berlin Arranges Another Repatriation Flight from Hamburg to the Philippines

Filipino crewmembers and passengers check-in for the chartered flight (Berlin PE photo)

BERLIN 15 June 2020 – A total of 232 Filipino crewmembers from various maritime and manning companies as well as some other Filipino nationals departed for the Philippines from Hamburg, Germany on 11 June 2020 via a chartered Condor Airlines flight and arrived in the Philippines on 12 June 2020.

The seafarers had been awaiting repatriation after cruise trips were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic starting in March. Other Filipino nationals in Germany likewise availed of the flight to return to the Philippines.

The flight was coordinated by Business Travel Hamburg in coordination with Doehle Seafront on behalf of several companies.

The passengers were assisted at the send-off by Philippine Embassy in Germany Deputy Chief of Mission and Consul General Lilibeth Pono, Welfare Officer Sylvia Gabriel, and Embassy staff members Renante Estrella, and Elvin Jay Alejandro.

The crew members expressed their hope that cruise operations would gradually be resumed by German maritime companies.

Before boarding, the passengers were provided with information on how to avail of the AKAP or Social Amelioration Fund and also the Balik Pinas, Balik Hanapbuhay Livelihood Assistance Program of OWWA. END

Left photo: Philippine Embassy in Germany Deputy Chief of Mission and Consul General Lilibeth Pono, Welfare Officer Sylvia Gabriel and Elvin Jay Alejandro with a representative of manning companies. Right photo: Filipino passengers arrive at Hamburg International Airport. (Berlin PE photo)

For more information, visit  https://www.berlinpe.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.philippine-embassy.de or https://www.facebook.com/PHinGermany.