21 Airports Resume Operations after Typhoon
Dec. 21—THE country's aviation regulator on Monday announced that 21 airports "on the path of Typhoon Odette" have resumed operations but are still closed for commercial flights.
Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) spokesman Eric Apolonio said airports that are operational include Busuanga Airport, Puerto Princesa International Airport, Bicol International Airport, Caticlan Airport, Kalibo International Airport, Roxas Airport, Bohol-Panglao International Airport, Tacloban Airport, Ormoc Airport, Laguindingan Airport, Cotabato Airport, Davao International Airport, General Santos Airport and Butuan Airport.
Apolonio said the airports that sustained damages but are operational include San Vicente Airport, Antique Airport, Bacolod-Silay Airport, Iloilo International Airport, Dumaguete Airport, Maasin Airport and Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA).
The MCIA is operated by the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority but the CAAP maintains technical facilities in the airport.
Apolonio noted that some of the airports mentioned have already resumed operations a few days ago.
He added that CAAP-operated airports that are still closed for commercial operation are Surigao and Siargao airports except for government, military, emergency, cargo and humanitarian flights.
"Many of the airports that were affected by the typhoon are still experiencing commercial power outage and telecommunication signal loss. To restore communication channels, CAAP has dispatched satellite phones to the airports that will be needing them most," Apolonio said.
Meanwhile, Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Monday said that from December 16 to 20, an estimated 20,000 passengers were affected by flight cancellations due to Typhoon "Odette."
"Our flights to/from Siargao are humanitarian flights carrying donations of the Tan Yan Kee Foundation, the CSR arm of the LT Group of Companies. Donations are distilled water for Siargao residents. Commercial operations have yet to resume," PAL spokesman Cielo Villaluna said, adding, "Our PPS ( Puerto Princesa) operations have resumed today."
Villaluna said that only Siargao remained close to commercial operations while its Mactan-Cebu domestic operations have resumed. The international flights to and from Cebu has remained suspended.
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