Tacloban airport closed due to damaged runway

MANILA, Philippines - The Tacloban airport was closed for operations yesterday until early today due to a damaged runway.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport in Tacloban City was closed effective 2 p.m. yesterday until 5 a.m. today.

Tacloban area manager Antonio Alfonso said the closure of the airport was prompted by the damage to a part of the asphalted landing roll portion of the runway that needed immediate repair.

He said repair work, which started yesterday, was expected to be completed early morning today.

Due to the closure of operations, two Airbus aircraft from Air Asia and Cebu Pacific were grounded at the airport.

Six flights were also cancelled. These are two Airbus 320s of PAL Express (Manila-Tacloban–Manila), two Airbus 320s of Cebu Pacific (Manila-Tacloban-Manila), one ATR (Cebu-Tacloban-Cebu) and one Airbus 320 from Air Asia (Manila-Tacloban-Manila).

Airport authorities and respective airlines have provided accommodation to the stranded passengers.

The affected passengers were also given priority on the next available flight out of Tacloban Airport.