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(Updated :3:55p.m.) Flights to and from Manila were delayed on New Year's day after fireworks-related smog caused zero visibility and closed down runways in the hours after New Year's eve revelries.

The runways were declared open by 9 a.m. Sunday but while Philippine Airlines said it resumed all its flights, Cebu Pacific had to divert and cancel flights, while also delaying many. Of 13 Cebu Pacific flights from Caticlan, Boracay's airport, on New Year's day, five had to be canceled while at least four were delayed, according to the airline's web site.

Earlier, Cebu Pacific had tweeted that all of its flights leaving Manila from the NAIA Terminal 3 were put on hold as of 7:24 a.m.

"The Manila International Airport Authorities (MIAA) reported zero visibility due to thick fog/smoke surrounding the airport," it said on its Twitter account.

It said the flights to Manila were diverted to the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark, Pampanga.

At 8 a.m., however, Cebu Pacific said the MIAA declared NAIA Terminal 3 open to departing and arriving flights.

"We hope for everyone's understanding as this is beyond the airline's control. We always put our passengers' safety on top priority. Thanks for understanding!" it said.

PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna texted:

"Both domestic and international flights today delayed from one to two and half hours due to Manila airport poor visibility (smog). Airport cleared of smog around 9 a.m. As of this time, no flight cancelled due to smog but almost all flights delayed."

Villaluna added that PAL flights resumed after the Centennial Airport runway opened at 9 a.m. "But this means flights scheduled between 5am and 7am departed by 9am and chain reaction yan throughout the day," she said.

Zest Air's 5 a.m. flights to Masbate and San Jose, Mindoro were cancelled due to smog, according to an airline spokesperson.

Dry weather allowed New Year smog to stay

Despite reports of much reduced fireworks this year in many neighborhoods around Metro Manila, the dry weather permitted smog from detonated firecrackers to linger, creating zero visibility at the three airports in Manila. PAGASA had forecast a rainy weekend, which would have quickly cleared the air.

Aviation and airline officials contacted Sunday could not recall the last time fireworks-related smog closed down any runways.

Cebu Pacific said four flights bound for Manila were diverted to the Diosdado Macapagal Airport in Clark due to low visibility in NAIA Terminal 3. These included:
For holiday travellers, the delayed or cancelled flights could mean a few hours on the beach. Caticlan airport is just across from Boracay island, which had just rocked the night away under a crescent moon lying on its back.  — Howie Severino/LBG/AF, GMA News