INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—More Cebu Pacific flights to and from Lumbia Airport in Cagayan de Oro City have been cancelled after the facility’s runway lights were disabled by lightning last Monday.
Four more flights originating from the airport and bound for Manila and Cebu City were cancelled on Wednesday, bringing to 16 the total number of cancelled flights since Monday.
The airline, in a statement, confirmed that its flights were cancelled due to the “inoperative” runway threshold identifier lights or the RTIL.
The RTIL system was reportedly struck by lightning during a storm last Monday, initial reports reaching the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and the Manila International Airport Authority stated.
Lumbia Airport authorities had to squeeze flights between 6 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., or during daylight. Pre-dawn and night flights had to be cancelled.
In accordance with the transportation and trade department’s recently issued guidelines on air passengers’ rights, Cebu Pacific said it had contacted the affected travelers who were booked in the next available flights.
“Aside from re-accommodation on the extra flight, options include rebooking or rerouting for travel within 30 days with no penalties, full travel fund or full refund. We hope for your understanding as these cancellations were beyond the airline’s control. Your safety is always our top priority,” the airline said.
Lumbia is one of the major airports in the southern Philippines; the facility served more than 6,700 flights and 1.4 million passengers last year.
A bigger airport, the Languindingan International Airport, also located in the city, is currently being constructed and expected to be completed by June next year.