Cebu Pacific reinstates Manila-Tacloban Christmas flights

MANILA, Philippines – Local airlines Cebu Pacific and Tigerair on Tuesday, December 23, announced that at least 5 flights routes between Manila and Tacloban would return for two days after the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) lifted flight restrictions on the city’s airport.

In a statement, the two airlines said from Christmas eve, December 24 to Christmas Day, December 25, the following flights will be reinstated:

Cebu Pacific

• 5J 651 / 652 Manila – Tacloban – Manila
• 5J 653 / 654 Manila – Tacloban – Manila
• 5J 657 / 658 Manila – Tacloban – Manila

Tigerair

• DG 7042 / 7043 Manila – Tacloban – Manila
• DG 7044 / 7045 Manila – Tacloban – Manila

“Passengers originally booked on these flights and who have already moved their flights may choose to retain their current bookings or opt to rebook back on these reinstated flights without charges,” Cebu Pacific, which owns Tigerair, said in the statement.

The same flights had earlier been cancelled following an advisory from the CAAP.

Only 1,300 meters of the runway was usable from December 17 to December 25 because of the ongoing rehabilitation of the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport. 

Passengers affected by the return of the said flights may call the following numbers: 

• NAIA Terminal 3 Sales Office – Level 3, Departure Hall, NAIA Terminal 3, Andrews Ave., Pasay City
• NAIA Terminal 4 Express Ticket Office – Old Domestic Road, Pasay City
• Robinsons Galleria – West Lane, Level 1, Ortigas Ave. cor. ADB Ave. Quezon City
• Robinsons Place Imus – Level 4, Aguinaldo Highway Imus, Cavite
• Robinsons Place Manila – Level 1 Adriatico Wing, Pedro Gil cor. Adriatico St. Ermita Manila
• Cebu Airport Ticket Office – Mactan International Airport, Lapu-Lapu, Cebu City
• Robinsons Fuente – Fuente Osmeña, Cebu City

The airport was first closed to large aircraft early September this year for runway repairs. The same airport shutdown in the immediate aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda in 2013.

Airport repairs are set to be finished by January 2015, ahead of Pope Francis’ scheduled visit to the region. – Rappler.com