Zamboanga flights may resume Sept 19

MANILA, Philippines – The government hopes to resume flights to and from Zamboanga City on Thursday, September 19, or 10 days after operations at Mindanao’s 3rd busiest aviation facility were suspended.

Officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and Interior Secretary Mar Roxas gave this target schedule during a press conference in Zamboanga City on Tuesday, September 17.

The government did not allow planes to land and take off at the Mindanao aviation hub since September 9, citing security reasons.

READ: Govt halts Zamboanga airport operations

The closure affected thousands of passengers and cargo movement as government forces and rebel groups engage in days-long firefight. 

CAAP chief William Hotchkiss was in Zamboanga to discuss with other government officials how to accommodate passengers unable to take flights because of the crisis.

Representatives of Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific, two airlines operating flights in Zamboanga, were also present for the talks.

Only two flights will be accommodated on Thursday, Hotchkiss said. More flights will be added on succeeding days.

To limit crowd at the airport, the airline officials said passengers in the first batch of flight arrivals will be brought to Baliwasan Central School so relatives can fetch them there.

The death toll in Zamboanga rose to 99 as the standoff went on for the 9th consecutive day Tuesday. On Monday night, the military declared that 70% of the battle zone had been cleared. – with reports from Carmela Fonbuena/Rappler.com