Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 (Image from MIAA)
Updated at 12:54 p.m.
MANILA, Philippines — Several flights have been delayed or canceled due to a power failure that struck the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 3 on Labor Day, May 1.
The Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa) said the power outage was encountered at around 1:05 a.m.
“Standby power is now supplying electricity to critical facilities enabling computer systems of airlines and immigration to function partially and enable processing of both inbound and outbound passengers. As a result, delayed flights shall be expected,” Miaa said in a statement.
It later noted that the following flights are called off as 12:30 p.m.:
Cebu Pacific (5J)
- 5J 504/503 – Manila-Tuguegarao-Manila
- 5J 325/326 – Manila-Daraga-Manila
- 5J 383/384 – Manila-Cagayan-Manila
- 5J 196/197 – Manila-Cauayan-Manila
- 5J 703/704 – Manila-Dipolog-Manila
- 5J 637/638 – Manila-Puerto Princesa-Manila
- 5J 911/912 – Manila-Caticlan-Manila
- 5J 553/554 – Manila-Cebu-Manila
- 5J 617/618 – Manila-Panglao-Manila
- 5J 483/484 – Manila-Bacolod-Manila
- 5J 951/952 – Manila-Davao-Manila
- 5J 793/794 – Manila-Butuan-Manila
- 5J 859/860 – Manila-Zamboanga-Manila
- 5J 993/994 – Manila-General Santos-Manila
- 5J 781/782 – Manila-Ozamiz-Manila
- 5J 909/910 – Manila-Caticlan-Manila
- 5J 449/450 – Manila-Iloilo-Manila
- 5J 659/660 – Manila-Tacloban-Manila
- 5J 887/888 – Manila-Cotabato-Manila
- 5J 773/774 – Manila-Pagadian-Manila
- 5J 629/630 – Manila-Dumaguete-Manila
- 5J 581/582 – Manila-Cebu-Manila
- 5J 977/978 – Manila-Davao-Manila
- 5J 391/392 – Manila-Cagayan-Manila
Miaa apologized for the inconvenience the power failure brought upon its passengers but noted that assistance is already being provided by its personnel at the Naia Terminal 3.
The airport authority further said its engineering team is working with technical personnel of the Manila Electric Company to determine the cause of the power outage.
In an advisory, Cebu Pacific Air said passengers departing to and from Naia Terminal 3 who do not want to proceed with their flights may either rebook the travel within 30 days or store the travel fund.
“They may avail themselves of their preferred option online up to two hours before their scheduled time of departure. We appeal for your patience and understanding,” it added.
Air Asia Philippines, meanwhile, said the power outage would push back the expected time of departure (ETD) for some of its international and domestic flights, including the following:
- Z2 884 MNL-ICN – New ETD 9:00 a.m.
- Z2 188 MNL-KIX – New ETD 10:30 a.m.
- Z2 781 MNL-CEB – New ETD 10:00 a.m.
- Z2 217 MNL-MPH – New ETD 10:20 a.m.
- Z2 783 MNL-CEB – New ETD 2:00 p.m.
“Meanwhile, all other remaining flights will operate as scheduled,” it said in a separate advisory.
Air Asia noted that snacks, refreshments and other forms of assistance are being provided to affected passengers.
“We are also working with the Miaa management to minimize any inconvenience in the present circumstances,” it added.
UPDATE: AirAsia PH advisory following power interruption at Naia T3 | @TyronePiad /PDI pic.twitter.com/cNKdVoxivM
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) May 1, 2023
According to Miaa, power at the Naia Terminal 3 was restored at around 9:30 a.m.
This would not be the first time a power outage disrupted operations at the Naia on a holiday since hundreds of flights were likewise canceled, diverted or delayed on Jan. 1, the first day of the new year, after a severe power failure downed the air navigation system of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.