Plan flights around Apec week, travelers advised

THE MANILA International Airport Authority (MIAA) has reminded passengers to plan their trips and avoid the week coinciding with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit in November when flight disruptions are expected.

Cebu Pacific (CEB) and Cebu Pacific-Tigerair (Cebgo) have announced over 300 international and domestic flight cancellations from Nov. 16 to 20 to give way to the weeklong activities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) for the Apec leaders meeting.

Heads of state in Asia and the Pacific are expected to start arriving at the Naia on Nov. 16 for the summit, which will be held on Nov. 18 and 19.

According to the MIAA, there will be periods of temporary runway closure to allow for the arrival and departure of the world leaders.

In a coordination meeting last week between airport authorities and airline companies, MIAA General Manager Jose Angel Honrado said several heads of state had submitted their flight schedules.

Honrado said the Asia-Pacific leaders were to arrive on Nov. 16 and 17 and start leaving Manila on the 19th and 20th.

Normal flight operations are expected to resume on the 21st.

Honrado advised passengers not to schedule flights from Nov. 16 to 20 to avoid inconvenience.

He said that while there would still be commercial flights during those dates, they would be subject to delays or even cancellations because of the temporary runway closures.