APEC meeting to disrupt 3 in 10 flights at NAIA

The arrival and departure of state leaders, including US President Barack Obama, for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Manila will disrupt around three in every 10 flights landing and taking off at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Philippine Airlines (PAL), Cebu Pacific and AirAsia Philippines have canceled more than 550 international and domestic flights, including the round trip counterpart, from November 15 to 20 to give way for the scheduled arrivals of APEC leaders. The summit is scheduled for November 18 and 19.

Flag carrier PAL has announced 115 domestic and 96 international canceled flights. Cebu Pacific canceled 131 round-trip flights while its subsidiary Cebgo will skip operating 21 round-trip flights.  AirAsia is dropping 84 flights.

The main gateway to the Philippines hosts roughly 800 flights daily, Dave de Castro, spokesperson for the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), said in a text message to GMA News Online on Monday.

On November 17 alone, when most APEC leaders are expected to arrive for the summit, 272 flights or 34 percent of the daily average at NAIA will not push through. The airport authority warned of further delays and  cancellations.

"These flights cannot operate because their schedules fall within the periods of runway closures. Said runway closures within no-fly zone periods are necessary to ensure the safety of heads of state and economic ministers," PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna said in a separate text message.

The summit will gather top officials from the economic bloc comprising Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, US and Vietnam.

Affected passengers can rebook their flights within a particular period without penalty charges. Passengers can check with the airlines' respective websites and social media accounts for the specific flights canceled and other details.

International airlines have yet to announce their cancellations for flights coinciding with the APEC meeting. – VS, GMA News