RELIEF OPS. Workers load food packs, gasoline, and medicines onto a truck at the Cebu Provincial Capitol on Tuesday (Dec. 21, 2021). The truck is headed for Malabuyoc town in southern Cebu, a 5th-class municipality that remains inaccessible to four-wheeled vehicles from Alegria in the north because one lane of a bridge linking it to neighboring Ginatilan had collapsed when Typhoon Odette slammed the province last week. (Contributed photo)
CEBU CITY – Another airline has partnered with the government and various organizations to boost relief operations by transporting essential goods to provinces badly hit by Typhoon Odette last week.
AirAsia Philippines has already airlifted more than 20 tons of items since December 17.
“Although we are faced with a lot of challenges, especially our crew who were also affected by the typhoon, we continue to soldier on to ensure that we continue to service our guests the best possible way during the peak season,” company spokesperson Steve Dailisan said in a statement.
Post-typhoon, the airline has re-strategized flight routes and communications with local government units and airports for the speedy restart of flight operations.
All its domestic flight routes fully resumed on Monday, with the exception of Puerto Princesa in Palawan, as on-ground communications continue to be a challenge in the province following the impact of the typhoon.
“Odette” made landfall in Roxas town on Friday, one of nine by the strongest weather disturbance to hit the country this year.
From December 16 to 19, a total of 198 of the airline’s domestic flights were canceled or postponed, affecting an estimated 30,000 passengers.
AirAsia also mounted two recovery flights from Manila to Cebu on Sunday, catering to almost 1,000 passengers.
Guests affected by flight delays and cancellations from Manila to Puerto Princesa City may also avail of a recovery flight to the province on Thursday, December 23, the airline announced.
Help desks are available in local airports such as those in Mactan in Cebu, Puerto Princesa, and Bohol province. (PNA)
