NAIA runway reopened at 6 p.m. Tuesday for recovery flights, says MIAA

The main runway of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport was reopened at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, after the airport was temporarily closed in the morning due to the effects of Typhoon Tisoy.

In a press conference, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Ed Monreal said that they decided to reopen the airport ahead of schedule after consulting with PAGASA about the typhoon.

"We were apprised by PAGASA...that the weather has improved, " he said.

"On that note, we have commonly agreed that from 6 o'clock this evening, we will open the runway and airport operations, only for recovery flights," he said.

Monreal added that "recovery flights" refer to "local carriers who conducted a preemptive evacuation, bringing their aircraft to the other regional airports. They will be given priority to bring in, from 6 o'clock to 11, all their aircraft that have been redeployed then evacuated to various airports in the country."

Monreal said that 53 aircraft fall under this category. "We have 53 flights to manage tonight until about 11 this evening," he said. 

Of this number, eight are Philippine Airlines flights, 15 are AirAsia Philippines planes, and the remaining 30 are Cebu Pacific and CebGo flights.

"We have 84 slots available so that these aircraft can be accommodated. The reason we allowed this scenario is to ensure that majority of the flights will be operated by tomorrow," Monreal added.

From 11 p.m. on Tuesday until 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday, he said, the airport will be able to accommodate all regularly scheduled flights, "a combination of domestic, a combination of arrival and departure of international flights," he said.

From 1:30 a.m. to 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, "that period will be allotted to international carriers that request recovery flights," he also said.

“What we estimate is from 3:30 in the morning onwards, we are hoping to go back to normalcy since majority, not all the aircraft, are back here in Manila,” Monreal said.

The MIAA had earlier announced the closure of the country's main gateway from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. as Tisoy bore down on the National Capital Region.

Check with airlines

Monreal still discouraged passengers from immediately going to the airport. "Yes, the airport is open. However, because there was a cancellation early on...they should first check with the airlines if their flights and booking are confirmed before proceeding to the airport," he said.

"Basta ang importante po mag-check muna sa airline."

The shutdown inconvenienced around 96,000 passengers, Monreal said.

In a statement on Monday, the MIAA said that when flight operations resumed, scheduled flights would be prioritized.

"Recovery flights will be accommodated on a first come, first served basis. For an orderly succession of flights, recovery flights must have prior approval from the MIAA authority," it said.

"Wala kaming nakikitang problema," Monreal also said of the airport's terminals and facilities.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 is currently up over Metro Manila as Tisoy continues moving west. According to PAGASA's latest report issued at 5 p.m., the typhoon's center was estimated to be 110 km northwest of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro or 135 km north of Coron, Palawan as of 4 p.m., with maximum sustained winds of up to 130 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 200 kph. — with Julia Mari Ornedo/BM, GMA News