MANILA -- A number of domestic flights were cancelled on Monday, but not all of these were due to the Aug. 16- 18 closure of Runway 06/24, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Ed Monreal said in a press conference Monday afternoon.
Amid heavy rains, Xiamen Air flight MF8667 skidded off at NAIA's runway 06/24 at around 11:55 p.m. Thursday, causing the closure of the airport's international runway.
Due to limited runway operations, local carriers still had to cancel a number of their domestic flights. Aviation authorities explained that as of Monday, airlines are still adjusting flight schedules.
The flight delays, cancellations, and diversions since Thursday brought a domino effect to subsequent flights, as these flights need to get terminal slots, they said.
However, Monreal said the runway closure was not the sole reason for the continuous flight cancellations.
"There were 61 airlines that did not advise us about their arrival and departure, and did not ask for slots from MIAA," he said.
He said these airlines sought permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), but did not coordinate with MIAA.
Data showed to the Philippine News Agency (PNA) revealed 61 long-haul flights either arrived or departed at the NAIA from August 18 to 19.
Four of the 61 flights were Xiamen Air flights.
"The airlines complied with the CAAP and the CAB (Civil Aeronatics Board). But they seem to have forgotten that MIAA handles the terminal capacity," Monreal remarked.
That means those airlines only sought permit to enter the Philippines, aviation authorities explained.
He said that even though the airlines were at fault, the MIAA could not let their passengers suffer.
Manila Control Tower head Marlene Singson explained that CAAP could not refuse entry of those airlines because the safety of passengers and crew were at stake.
"Those flights were long-haul flights, which means they travelled far. It would not be safe if we would just let them on air," Singson said.
She added that the fuel level in those long-haul flights might really be low by the time they reached the country. Thus, not letting them land would be dangerous, Singson said. (PNA)
