Zamboanga airport still shuttered, no-fly zone imposed

Villagers flee as soldiers guard to secure the area following a clash between a Philippine navy patrol and suspected Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels aboard several boats off Zamboanga city in southern Philippines Monday, Sept. 9, 2013. The Muslim rebels stormed the key coastal southern city and took more than a dozen hostages, officials said. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Commercial operations in the Zamboanga International Airport is closed until further notice as fighting between government forces and Moro National Liberation Front rebels continued, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said Thursday in a notice to airmen.

“The Zamboanga airport aerodrome is closed and a no-fly zone within 25 nautical miles radius is in effect for all commercial aircraft except military and special government flights,” CAAP said in an advisory approved by CAAP Director General William Hotchkiss III.

Airport operations in Zamboanga City have been shut down since Monday when the fighting broke out, which has so far displaced thousands and affected six of 98 villages.

CAAP Operation Rescue Coordinating Center will issue an updated bulletin.

Passengers affected by flight cancellations were also advised to contact their respective airlines for the revised flight schedules.