Flights delayed amid adjustment in Philippine radar system

Several domestic and international flights were delayed due to the radar system maintenance work at the Philippine Air Traffic Management Center (ATMC) on Wednesday.

While around 20 flights were affected by the adjustment of the radar system, no passengers were seen stranded at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Darlene Cay reported on Unang Balita.

The Philippine Airlines (PAL) announced the changes in their flight schedules as early as Monday.

PAL announced 30 minutes to four hours of delays in some flights coming from and going to Manila, Cebu, Davao, Guangzhou, Tokyo, Seoul, Kalibo, Singapore, Phnom Penh, and Bangkok, among other destinations.

Based on a 6 p.m. advisory on Tuesday, PAL said the following flight departures and arrivals will be adjusted to give way to the maintenance work:

International flights

May 2

PR215 Manila - Port Moresby

Early Departure: 1 hour early

PR732 Manila - Bangkok

Delay: 1hr. 40mins.

PR733 Bangkok - Manila

Delay: 2hrs. 40mins

May 3

PR382 Manila - Guangzhou

Delay: 2hrs. 5mins.

PR383 Guangzhou - Manila

Delay: 1hr 55mins.

PR418 Manila - Busan

Delay: 1hr.

PR419 Busan - Manila

Delay: 1hr.

PR423 Tokyo (Haneda) - Manila

Delay: 55mins.

PR431 Tokyo (Narita) - Manila

Delay: 40mins.

PR466 Manila - Seoul (Incheon)

Delay: 3hrs. 50mins.

PR467 Seoul (Incheon) - Clark

Delay: 2hrs. 40mins.

PR484 Cebu - Seoul (Incheon)

Delay: 4hrs. 5mins

PR485 Seoul (Incheon) - Cebu

Delay: 3hrs.

PR489 Seoul (Incheon) - Kalibo

Delay: 1hr. 45mins

PR492 Clark - Incheon

Delay: 3hrs 25mins.

PR501 Manila - Singapore

Delay: 2hrs. 20mins.

PR509 Manila - Singapore

Delay: 1hr. 5mins.

PR510 Singapore - Manila

Delay: 2hrs.10mins.

PR512 Singapore - Manila

Delay: 2hrs. 20mins.

PR522 Phnom Penh - Manila

Delay: 1hr. 15mins.

PR730 Manila - Bangkok

Delay: 1hr. 20mins.

PR731 Bangkok - Manila

Delay: 1hr. 5mins.

PR5432 Manila - Tokyo (Narita)

Delay: 40mins.

Domestic flights

May 3

PR1841 Manila - Cebu

Delay: 2hrs. 45mins.

PR1842 Manila - Davao

Delay: 1hr. 5mins.

PR1848 Cebu - Manila

Delay: 3hrs. 10mins.

PR2808 Davao - Manila

Delay: 50mins.

PR2812 Davao - Manila

Delay: 55mins.

PR2815 Manila - Davao

Delay: 1hr.

PR2816 Davao - Manila

Delay: 30mins.

PR2836 Cebu - Manila

Delay: 2hrs. 10mins.

Some adjusted flight schedules, however, were not included in the list released by PAL, the Unang Balita report said.

Meanwhile, other airlines have yet to release advisories on flight delays.

On Tuesday, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) announced a corrective maintenance activity that will be conducted at the Philippine ATMC on May 3, Wednesday, and May 17.

On Wednesday, operations at the ATMC were suspended from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. On May 17, operations at the ATMC will be suspended from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.

The corrective maintenance activity will affect flights at NAIA, Clark International Airport, and Mactan-Cebu International Airport, and several flights at 42 other CAAP airports.

Mitigating measures and flight schedule adjustments have been discussed with stakeholders to ensure the smooth conduct of the maintenance activity, according to CAAP.

“The CAAP assures the public that once the maintenance activity is completed, operations at the ATMC will resume as normal and will allow CAAP-ATMC to serve the flying public better and ensure continued flight safety,” CAAP said.

“We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding and cooperation in ensuring the safety and efficiency of our air traffic management system,” it added.

On Monday, Labor Day, dozens of flights at NAIA were canceled due to a power outage that hit Terminal 3. —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA Integrated News