Tacloban airport closed for repair

MANILA, Philippines - The Daniel Romualdez Airport in Tacloban City will be closed for 24 hours starting today due to repair of potholes along its runway, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said yesterday.

Rodante Joya, CAAP deputy director general, said they issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) on the closure of the airport from 6 a.m. today.

When the runway repair is done, Joya said only turbo propeller aircraft would be allowed to resume flights at the airport.

Joya said jets like Airbus A320 or Boeing B737 would be allowed only after asphalting works on the entire runway is done.

“The continuing deterioration of the runway surface had to be addressed immediately for the safety of all,” he said.

The CAAP official said flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL), as well as budget carriers Cebu Pacific, Air Asia and Tiger Airways, threatened to stop flying to Tacloban due to potholes along the runway. 

He said the CAAP issued the NOTAM to allow propeller-driven aircraft to resume operations as soon as possible.

The airport’s terminal and runway were damaged when Super Typhoon Yolanda hit the country last year. 

Joya said a total of 24 flights to and from Tacloban would be affected by the closure.

Cebu Pacific cancelled its 10 flights from Manila-Tacloban-Manila and four flights from Cebu-Tacloban-Cebu flights on Thursday.

PAL canceled six flights to and from Tacloban. – With Rudy Santos