HK flight sched at Naia bared

MANILA, Philippines — At least eight flights to and from Hong Kong were canceled at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia)  on Wednesday as the Chinese territory reeled from the paralyzing occupation of its airport by prodemocracy protesters.

Flights resumed on Wednesday after two days of disruption by Hong Kong protesters who blocked access to the immigration desks for departing passengers.

In Manila, Cathay Pacific, Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Cebu Pacific canceled several Hong Kong-bound flights.

PAL replaced its canceled flights with two flights, one leaving for Hong Kong at 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday and one leaving for Manila at 1:15 a.m. on Thursday.  Another flight to Hong Kong and its return trip were rescheduled by three hours.

PAL spokesperson Ma. Cielo Villaluna said all its flights to or from Hong Kong are “operating based on published schedules.”

Meanwhile, Emmanuel Geslani, a consultant for several Manila-based recruitment agencies, advised recruiters in Hong Kong to consider flying overseas Filipino workers to and from the city via nearby airports.

“Depending on how urgent the foreign recruitment agencies need their workers, they should consider flying them to nearby airports in Macau, Shenzen or Guangzhou, from where they can proceed by ferry or by land to Hong Kong,” Geslani told the Inquirer by phone.—With a report from AP