The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has provided aid to stranded passengers whose flights were diverted due to Severe Tropical Storm ‘Paeng.’
CAAP said Monday, Oct. 31, that Masbate, Tacloban, Laguindingan, and Zamboanga airports have provided assistance kits to stranded passengers and allowed them to take shelter in the airport terminals during the typhoon and while waiting for their flights.
Aside from assisting passengers, CAAP-operated airports in Puerto Princesa, Bohol-Panglao, Laguindingan, and Davao also facilitated and received several diverted international and domestic flights from Manila during the temporary closure of Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s (NAIA) runway last October 29.
“Despite the damages brought by the storm to our kababayans, we commend the coordination and initiative of our provincial airports and staff, who willingly offered help during the height of the storm. Together, we hope we can rise back up from the loss brought by ‘Paeng,’" CAAP acting director general Captain Manuel Antonio Tamayo said.
As ‘Paeng’ continues to move northwestward of the country, CAAP said that their operated airports will now focus on assisting remaining stranded passengers and diverted flights while also clearing up the airports as they return to normal operations and schedules.
Meanwhile, thousands of stranded passengers flocked the NAIA domestic terminals after local airlines started their recovery flights to accommodate passengers who were affected by cancellations due to Paeng.
Cebu Pacific (CEB) and AirAsia have cancelled 38 domestic flights due to the storm.
These include:
Cebu Pacific Air (5J)
5J 473/474 Manila-Bacolod-Manila
5J451/452 Manila-Iloilo-Manila
5J 893/894 Manila-Caticlan-Manila
5J 627/628 Manila-Dumaguete-Manila
5J 567/568 Manila-Cebu-Manila
5J 963/964 Manila-Davao-Manila
5J383/384 Manila-Cagayan-Manila
5J 571/572 Manila-Cebu-Manila
5J 637/638 Manila-Puerto Princesa-Manila
5J 617/618 Manila-Tagbilaran-Manila
5J 655/656 Manila-Tacloban-Manila
AirAsia (Z2)
Z2430/431 Manila-Puerto Princesa-Manila
Z2 715/716 Manila-Kalibo-Manila
Z2613/614 Manila-Davao-Manila
Z2 327/328 Manila-Tacloban-Manila
Z2777/778 Manila-Cebu-Manila
Z2 313/314 Manila-Iloilo-Manila
Z2605/606 Manila-Bacolod-Manila
Z2 354/355 Manila-Tagbilaran-Manila