Flight restrictions due to stalled plane at Tagbilaran Airport lifted

Aircraft mechanics continue to fix the disabled aircraft of Air Philippines/PAL Express which has been stalled at the Tagbilaran Airport ramp since Saturday afternoon. PHOTO BY LEO UDTOHAN, INQUIRER VISAYAS

TAGBILARAN CITY- Flight restrictions that were put in place at the Tagbilaran Airport in Bohol province on Saturday until Sunday due to a disabled aircraft have now been lifted.

Flights have resumed today at the Tagbilaran Airport after the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) has lifted the restrictions against big aircraft to land at the city airport.

In a post on its Twitter account, Caap clarified the Tagbilaran runway was not closed, but allowed only smaller aircraft to land “due to limited ramp space.”

“Advisory: Restriction on aircraft type allowed at Tagbilaran (Airport) already lifted,” it said.

The disabled aircraft of Air Philippines/PAL Express, an Airbus A320 with registry RPC8609, was scheduled to depart on Saturday afternoon for Manila, but had encountered engine problems after landing at Tagbilaran Airport from Manila with 100 passengers and six crew on board. That, combined with the “one-plane policy” imposed by Caap at the Tagbilaran Airport disallowing two planes to land at a time at the city airport due to its limited existing runway and apron for safety considerations, prompted the flight restrictions.

At least 1, 200 passengers were affected on Sunday after eight flights, including those from Air Asia and Cebu Pacific, were cancelled.

Air Asia cancelled its Sunday flights, while Cebu Pacific cancelled several Manila-Tagbilaran-Manila flights on Sunday and Monday morning.

Tour operator Flor Lawangon said that the cancellation of flights had affected her business.

“It cost me a lot to rebook some tickets for my guests,” Lawangon said.

She also said that the cancellations of flights and the lack of proper coordination and information resulted in losses for businesses like hers in the province, considering that Tagbilaran is the main gateway to the province.

On Monday morning, Philippine Airlines resumed its flight at 10 a.m., said Vangie Sarcol, Caap-Tagbilaran office assistant. Another flight of Air Asia and Cebu Pacific with the Manila-Tagbilaran-Manila route resumed this afternoon, she added.

“We have normal flights now,” Sarcol said.

As of Monday at 4 p.m., the disabled aircraft is still at the Tagbilaran Airport ramp while being fixed by aircraft mechanics. Leo Udtohan, Inquirer Visayas/CDG