Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 3) — The airspace shutdown on May 17 may disrupt more than 100 flights at the country’s main gateway, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said Wednesday.
“Based on our projection, there will be around 130 flights that could be possibly affected and based on the estimate passenger load, it will be around 20,000 passengers,” MIAA officer-in-charge Bryan Co said in a briefing.
On Tuesday, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines announced that the country’s airspace will be closed from midnight to 6 a.m. on May 17 to upgrade the air traffic management system, repair the automatic voltage regulator, and replace the uninterruptible power supply. https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/5/2/ph-airspace-shutdown-may-17.html
Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Wednesday assured passengers that it will carry out measures to make sure they will reach their destinations.
“Under normal circumstances, we operate 18 international arrivals and departures. This does not include the domestic sector, so if you include the domestic sector, it would total around 38 to 40 flights,” PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna told CNN Philippines’ The Source.
Co said the early announcement of the maintenance activity gives airlines enough time to adjust flight schedules and inform passengers of changes in travel time.
He said airlines are working on rescheduling flights and options to offer passengers.
Villaluna said PAL \”will carry out steps to protect you either by rebooking you in the next available flight, giving you options or delaying the departures and delaying the arrivals.\”
“We will make the announcements accordingly,\” she added.
Meanwhile, a shorter corrective maintenance activity was conducted at 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. on Wednesday.
Villaluna said this affected 28 domestic and international flights.
So far, operations are ongoing, with 12 flights already completed, she noted.
The PAL spokesperson said the airline was able to inform affected passengers beforehand about adjustments to their flight schedules.
Issues encountered by PAL focused on passengers who arrived at the airport despite the delay in their flights, Villaluna said.
These customers are those who booked their flights via a third party who is responsible for informing those affected about the adjustments, she noted.
