NAIA terminals inaccessible due to floods; PAL flights cancelled

MANILA, Philippines–Nonstop rains and continued flooding on Tuesday paralyzed all terminals of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, leaving passengers arriving stranded, officials said.

Floods around the Ninoy Aquino International Airport rendered all three terminals inaccessible to passengers taking their flight Tuesday morning even if the domestic and international runways of NAIA have not been unaffected and have remained operational, Connie Bungag, Manila International Airport Authority media officer, said.

“The flood on Sucat Road is waist-high. Andrews Avenue going to Terminal 3, Roxas Boulevard in Baclaran, Tramo Road from Fort Bonifacio to Villamor Airbase are also no longer passable to light vehicles,” Bungag said in a phone interview.

“Park ‘N fly is passable but you will be stranded before you get there,” she added.

MIAA General Manager Jose Angel Honrado advised passengers to avoid the risks on the roads and rebook their flights to another day.

“I’d like to suggest to people to rebook their flights if they are not too important,” Honrado said in a radio interview.

He said the takeoff and landing on the major runways have not been affected by the monsoon rains and the passengers from abroad could arrive safely.

Bungang said, however, passengers who had just arrived were stranded at the terminals.

“As of now, Terminal 3 is filled with stranded passengers,” Bungag said.

Passengers could not find yellow taxis to take them to their destinations, she said.

Among the grounded flights Tuesday morning were Cebu Pacific’s Cebu and Caticlan routes and Sea Air flights going to Cebu, Bacolod and Iloilo.

All Philippine Airlines flights, both international and domestic, have also been cancelled, Honrado said.

“We will reassess the weather situation and issue further announcement by 12 noon,” Honrado said.