Airport and aviation authorities on Wednesday ordered the closure of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) main runway to give way for the emergency repair works of its pavement to ensure the safety of aircraft and passengers.
“Notice is hereby served to all Airline Operators at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport that Runway 06/24 will be closed to flight operations from 0130H – 0620H, 03 August 2022 for emergency pavement repairs. Extension of closure is due too the required curing time of the asphalt overlay.
NOTAM (notice to airmen) to follow,” said Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Cesar Chiong in his advisory Tuesday.
The closure of NAIA 06/24 main runway resulted in the delayed arrival to Manila of seven international flights, while another flight was diverted to Clark International Airport in Pampanga.
Most of the affected flights were from Philippine Airlines (PAL), including those came from Vancouver (PR-117), Phnom Penh (PR-522), Singapore (PR-510), Bangkok (PR-741), Jakarta (PR-536), and San Francisco (PR-105), while the other one was Japan Airlines flight JL-77 from Tokyo.
Diverted to Clark was PAL flight PR-103 from Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, Transportation department Secretary Jaime Bautista said the terminal 2 of NAIA needs to be improved to enhance passenger experience.
Bautista made the observation after he made a surprise inspection at the facility during the airport’s peak hours last Monday.