A GMA News TV report says that more than 80,000 people are now stranded at the Ninoy Aquiino International Airport terminals due to confusing and conflicting pronouncements on flights today.
Yesterday, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines or CAAP issued an advisory cancelling flights to and fro NAIA. As of 8 o’clock this morning, the CAAP recommendation remains the same with a modification that included Clark International airport. The shutdown may be extended due to the ongoing volcanic activity in the area of Taal lake island in Batangas.
CAAP says Clark is also being shut down after the Japanese Volcanic advisory estimates that ash fall from the volcano may actually reach Clark.
Continuous thick flumes continue to spew out of several eruption vents of the volcano, which PHILVOCS say indicate a possible major eruption. Alert level 4 remains in effect. PHILVOCS reported that they expect a major hazardous eruption within hours or days.
CAAP Director General Jim Sydiongco said ash falls contain silica which when it enters into an aircraft’s engine may cause damages. Silica, which is the main material for glass, can also damage or make visibility a problem as it reacts with glass.
Volcanic ash clouds could reach heights of 55,000 get and impossible for radar detection. Taal has been spewing not just ash, but heated rocks and boulders which could affect aircrafts.
The Manila International Airport Authority or MIAA issued an advisory urging passengers not to proceed to the airport. However, it encouraged passengers to coordinate with their respective airlines for flight updates.
Shortly after news that the entourage of President Rodrigo Duterte was able to land in the airport, this led to a confusion as several online reactions practically advised government to lift the stoppage and continue terminal operations.
“We are calling on the airlines and the passengers to, before proceeding to the airport, to please coordinate with the airlines because they are the ones who are also going to make the decision to cancel, or you know, reschedule their flights,” MIAA General Manager Ed Monreal said in an interview with a local news network.
THICK AND THICKENING VOLCANIC ASH blankets NAIA’s runways and ramps. As of prestige, a total of 169 flights have been canceled and three flights diverted.
Philippine Airlines said the following arriving PAL flights have been diverted to Clark:
PR 721 London – Manila
PR 421 Haneda – Manila
PR 331 Xiamen – Manila
All flights originally scheduled to depart from Manila between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. have been declared canceled, PAL said.
“Please standby for more information. We shall keep you posted,” the airline advised its clients.
PAL said the following flights on Sunday Jan. 12 have been canceled:
INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS
PR 100 Manila – Honolulu
PR 101 Honolulu – Manila
PR 104 Manila – San Francisco
PR 105 San Francisco – Manila
PR 110 Manila – Guam
PR 116 Manila – Vancouver
PR 117 Vancouver – Manila
PR 114 Manila – San Francisco
PR 115 San Francisco – Manila
PR 102 Manila – Los Angeles
PR 103 Los Angeles – Manila
PR 126 Manila – JFK New York
PR 469 Incheon – Manila
PR 419 Pusan – Manila
PR 737 Bangkok – Manila
PR 307 Hong Kong – Manila
PR 310 Manila – Hong Kong
PR 311 Hong Kong – Manila
PR 312 Manila – Hong Kong
PR 424 Manila – Haneda
PR 509 Manila – Singapore
PR 512 Singapore – Manila
PR 732 Manila – Bangkok
PR 360 Manila – Peking
PR 595 Manila – Hanoi
PR 537 Manila – Denpasar
PR 733 Bangkok – Manila
PR 529 Manila – Kuala Lumpur
PR 535 Manila – Jakarta
PR 895 Taipei – Manila
DOMESTIC FLIGHTS
PR 2136 Bacolod – Manila
PR 2137 Manila – Bacolod
PR 2138 Bacolod – Manila
PR 2818 Davao – Manila
PR 2823 Manila – Davao
PR 2824 Davao – Manila
PR 2788 Puerto Princesa – Manila
PR 2529 Manila – Cagayan de Oro
PR 2530 Cagayan de Oro – Manila
PR 2146 Iloilo – Manila
PR 2825 Manila – Davao
PR 2808 Davao – Manila
PR 2198 Manila – Laoag
PR 2199 Laoag – Manila
PR 2988Tacloban – Manila
PR 2819 Manila – Davao
PR 2820 Davao – Manila
PR 2147 Manila – Iloilo
PR 2148 Iloilo – Manila
PR 2860 Cebu – Manila
PR 2863 Manila – Cebu
PR 2864 Cebu – Manila
PR 2880 Cebu – Manila
Cebu Pacific also said it has canceled flights arriving to and departing from NAIA from 7 p.m. until 11 p.m. Jan. 12.
“Passengers booked on these canceled flights will receive a notification through the contact details they provided upon booking,” Cebu Pacific said.
