NAIA taxiway opened

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) has opened a portion of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) taxiway that was closed for several weeks for rehabilitation.

Octavio "Bing" Lina, MIAA assistant general manager for operations, said the rehabilitated portion of "Taxiway Charlie" was opened last Monday for the use of international airlines with direct long-haul flights.

"It was opened last Monday. The curing process was finished by then so we opened it," Lina said.

A portion of the taxiway was closed by MIAA for more than a month for repair work needed on damage sustained from wear and tear and corrugation, MIAA said.

It will be recalled that during the closure, MIAA established a 180-degree turn for airlines using the taxiway to get to the take-off area.

However, four separate incidents occurred last June and July when pilots of Korean Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Philippine Airlines and Gulf Air failed to make the proper turn at the taxiway, causing their aircraft to stall. This resulted in the delay, cancellation, and even the diversion of several international flights. – Rainier Allan Ronda