Manila International Airport Authority General Manager Ed Monreal ordered recovery flights Monday to assist stranded passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport due to flight cancellations as a result of typhoon “Rolly.”
NAIA operations resumed 10 a.m. Monday. A total of 83 passenger flights were affected during the 24-hour closure as a safety measures when Metro Manila was under storm signals Nos. 3 and 4 starting last Saturday.
Monreal said he has tasked NAIA operators to submit within the day recovery flights that they intend to mount, adding that flights submitted for slotting must be flown as scheduled.
"We do not want a scenario where passengers will be stranded inside the terminals because of last minute cancellations. Passenger convenience should be the paramount consideration when mounting recovery flights," said Monreal.
“Priority will be given to scheduled flights for Nov. 2. Next priority will be given to ferry flights (no passengers on board) who will be returning from other airports outside Manila so that these planes can be used to achieve the fleet requirement for flight dispatch,” he added.
Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Director General Jim Sydiongco advised local airline operators to closely coordinate with CAAP during the course of planning so they can be guided about what local airports cannot accept flights due to damage from Rolly.
Monreal expressed optimism that the flights can be accommodated in one day owing to their minimal number compared to the over 700 flights per day during the pre-COVID period.
CAAP had earlier said that the Naga and Legazpi Airports have resumed operations despite damage from Rolly.
Other airports in the country remain operational and did not sustain any damage from the howler but some of them are undergoing assessment and on heightened alert.
Two days before Rolly struck, airports under CAAP secured facilities per instructions from DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade. (with a report from Ariel Fernandez)