By Ariel Fernandez The Lingayen Airport in Pangasinan was shut down from October 31 to November 2 for the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Days, affecting some 114 flights. Lingayen Airport (PNA) The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said the airport’s 1,634-meter runway, which sits across the Lingayen Public Cemetery, is being used by cemetery’s visitors as shortcut to reach the grave of their loved ones, making airport operations during Undas a safety and security concern. In Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) C0683/19, all commercial flights at the Lingayen Airport were suspended from 7 a.m. of Oct. 31 to 5 p.m. of Nov. 2. The NOTAM also covers three flying academies based and operating at Lingayen Airport – Fast Inc. Academy, Fastlink, and Signature Aviation Kite flying Another reason for the airport closure is the traditional practice of Lingayen locals of flying kites at the cemetery during All Saints’ Day. The practice has been traditionally observed for decades with the belief that kite flying is a tool to communicate with the dead and a vehicle for the departed souls to reach heaven. Area 1 Manager Ronald Estabillo said that even with the issuance NOTAM, “Oplan Bantay Pasilidad sa Araw ng Undas” remains in effect to prevent people from crossing the runway for safety and security reasons. He, however, acknowledged difficulty in preventing people from crossing the runway. “It will be difficult for us to control or apprehend people crossing from different directions in almost the entire stretch of the runway,” he said.