Tacloban flights adjusted as airport remains restricted

MANILA, Philippines - Operations at the Daniel Romualdez Airport in Tacloban City, Leyte remained restricted yesterday as an aircraft, which overshot the runway during Pope Francis’ visit to the province on Saturday, has remained in the area.

The situation prompted carriers, led by national flag carrier Philippine Airlines Inc. (PAL) and budget airline Cebu Air Inc. (Cebu Pacific), to adjust their operations.

PAL yesterday cancelled its Manila-Tacloban-Manila flights PR/2P 2985/2986 and PR/2P 2987/2988.

In a flight advisory, PAL said the airline would use its smaller Bombardier Q400 instead of the Airbus A320.

A Bombardier G50 plane carrying government officials skidded off the runway during takeoff on Saturday due to a strong crosswind brought about by Tropical Storm Amang.

PAL said it would continue to use its Bombardier aircraft as A320 planes could not still pass the runway.

Yesterday, passengers were re-accommodated in seven flights using Bombardier Q400 aircraft.

On the other hand, Cebu Pacific vice president for corporate affairs Jorenz Tañada said his company would use the Airbus ATR 72-500 for flights to and from Tacloban City due to the limited operations of the airport.

Tañada said Cebu Pacific had arranged eight additional flights to and from Tacloban City to accommodate passengers.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) shut down the airport after the Bombardier G50 veered off the runway minutes after an aircraft carrying Pope Francis took off on Saturday.

Retired Gen. Rodante Joya, CAAP deputy director general for operations, earlier said a team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation and Inquiry Board is now investigating the cause of accident.

Joya said CAAP issued a notice to airmen restricting the use of Tacloban airport from Jan. 18, from 9 a.m.  to  9 p.m., to Jan. 20.

He said planes that could land on the runway are limited to jets or turbo-propeller aircraft such as Bombardier Dash 8 and ATR 72-500 that has a seating capacity of 72.

Joya said runway 36 on the other side was allowed for landing and takeoff.

A source from CAAP said it would take at least three to four days to remove the Bombardier G50 as investigators were still documenting the accident.