Tacloban airport to be closed due to potholes on runway

MANILA, Philippines – Local carriers will temporarily suspend operations out of the airport in Tacloban City due to safety risks posed by potholes on its runway.

The Daniel Romualdez Airport will be closed starting 6 am Wednesday, September 3, for repairs, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) announced. It will open on September 4, but for turbo propeller aircraft only.

Aircraft like the Airbus A320 and Boeing B737 would be allowed to fly again “only after the total replacement of the 5 inches asphalts on the whole runway is done,” CAAP said.

Flights that will be affected include those mounted by Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Air Asia, and Tiger Air.

“The continuing deterioration of the runway surface had to be addressed immediately for the safety of all aircraft landing in Tacloban,” the agency noted.

CAAP said the following Cebu Pacific flights scheduled on September 3 have been cancelled:

• 5J 651 / 652         Manila – Tacloban – Manila
• 5J 659 / 660         Manila – Tacloban – Manila
• 5J 653 / 654         Manila – Tacloban – Manila
• 5J 426 / 427         Cebu – Tacloban – Cebu
• 5J 428 / 429         Cebu – Tacloban – Cebu

Passengers booked for these flights will be accommodated in the soonest available flights, or they may rebook their flights within 30 days from original departure date; reroute the flight to the alternate station (Cebu); or request for a full travel fund or full refund.

Tacloban’s airport was severely damaged when Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) made landfall in central Philippines in November last year. – Rappler.com