MANILA, Philippines - Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) said stranded passengers from Zamboanga affected by the ongoing conflict between government troops and the Moro National Liberation Front will be transferred to another airport in a Philippine Air Force C-130 cargo plane starting Friday.
“Starting Sept. 13, 2013 (Friday), C-130 planes of the Philippine Military will ferry the affected passengers from Zamboanga to Mactan-Cebu International Airport. From Cebu, they will be accommodated on regular flights plying the Cebu-Manila route,†PAL noted.
The airline said about 40 flights have already been suspended since the conflict broke out, with about 3,000 passengers affected. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines has ordered the indefinite closure of the Zamboanga International Airport to commercial flights for security reasons.
Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas on Wednesday asked PAL and Cebu Pacific to accommodate stranded passengers with plane tickets from Zamboanga to Manila.
PAL said the stranded passengers will be provided food and drinks.