The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) announces the suspension of all flight operations at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA / MNL / RPLL) from 0001H up to 0600H (MNL time) of Thursday, 12 November 2020 in anticipation of the effects by Typhoon Ulysses (International Codename: Vamco).
The announcement came after consultation with the Airline Operators Council (AOC), the Air Carriers Association of the Philippines (ACAP), PAGASA NAIA Station, and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Director General Jim Sydiongco.
Based on the typhoon forecasts presented by PAGASA (NAIA Station) and the airlines, it was revealed that the weather disturbance will be strongly felt in Manila at around 0200H bringing in strong winds that would endanger flight movements. Typhoon Ulysses is expected to weaken as the day progresses tomorrow, Thursday 12 November 2020.
MIAA General Manager Ed Monreal advises passengers to immediately coordinate with their airlines for flight updates. Airlines were also told to make sure that their customer service hotlines are ready to take in the expected surge of calls from passengers.
Airline operators that employed pre-emptive cancellations were told to submit their new flight schedules or requests for re-timings earlier at around 1900H. Slotting will be done in a way that would cause a minimal delay in passengers’ travel plans.
Airline ground handling agents were reminded to implement the maximum deployment of personnel both inside the terminals and at the ramp and ensure the availability of enough ground equipment once flight operations resume. Airlines were further told to attend to their passenger needs at all times.
As part of their contingency, AirAsia (Z2) evacuated some of their planes out of Manila while Philippine Airlines (PR) and Cebu Pacific (5J) employed ballasting of their fleet to ensure their stability while on the ground.
Philippine Airlines earlier issued several flight cancellations for today and tomorrow. All Nippon Airways (NH) and United Airlines (UA) have likewise canceled their flights which are scheduled to arrive tonight.
Pursuant to Sec. Arthur Tugade’s guidance during extreme weather conditions, the MIAA for its part adopted pre-emptive measures to cushion the adverse impact of Typhoon Ulysses to NAIA operations. GM Monreal ordered ground handling companies to ensure the safety of their ground equipment to prevent any damage to property and aircraft.
The MIAA engineering was instructed to inspect all billboard sites within the airport complex to inform owners to roll-up all tarpaulin ads and do necessary reinforcement of frames to avoid accidents caused by falling billboards. Pruning of trees at parking lots and roads around the airport complex has been done. Aerobridges have been tied down to prevent damage. Malasakit kits are ready to be distributed to passengers inside the Terminals. An early inspection of the runways and taxiways has been ordered so they can be used at the earliest time when the weather permits.
To assist airlines in reaching out to their passengers, the MIAA will share airline announcements on the MIAA official Facebook page and Twitter account.
For updates on flight operations and other inquires, the MIAA 24-hour hotlines can be reached at these numbers:
- Voice Hotlines: 88771-111 (Direct) | 8771-109 local 3080 / 3081
- Text Hotlines: 09178396242 (Globe) | 09189186242 (Smart)
- Flight information: 88771-109
- NAIA Terminal 1: 8771-109 local 2473
- NAIA Terminal 2: 8771-109 local 2475
- NAIA Terminal 3: 8771-109 local 2474 or 2476