MANILA -- Several flights of the country's flag carrier, Philippine Airlines, were cancelled Saturday due to pilot shortage, reports said.

Two of the cancelled flights are international and the rest are domestic.

Among those cancelled as flights to Cebu, Cagayan, Iloilo and Bacolod.

PAL corporate communications head Jonathan Gesmundo said in a radio interview that the problem occurred when some of their pilots transferred to other airlines without giving them notice.

The pilots, he said, were encouraged to work in other airline companies due to big salaries offered to them.

Gesmundo, however, assured that they are now adjusting their schedules. PAL is also accommodating the passengers who are stranded, he said.

The flights will be back to normal on Sunday, Gesmundo added. (Sunnex)