Cebu Pacific cancels more flights as Iloilo runway remains closed

A Cebu Pacific plane overshot the runway at the Iloilo International Airport late Friday evening. The airline said all 180 passengers and six crew are accounted for and are safe. Photo by Loui Latoza

Cebu Pacific has canceled six more flights to and from the Iloilo International Airport on Monday, as the runway remained closed after a Cebu Pacific aircraft skidded during landing over the weekend.

The airliner also made arrangements to accommodate the affected passengers at nearby Roxas Airport, and rescheduled the departure times of other flights.

"The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines has extended the runway closure until 12:00 noon today, October 16, 2017," the airline said, saying six more flights will be canceled.

• 5J 451 Manila-Iloilo
• 5J 452 Iloilo-Manila
• 5J 348 Davao-Iloilo
• 5J 347 Iloilo-Davao
• 5J 562 Puerto Princesa-Iloilo
• DG 6408 Cebu-Iloilo
• DG 6409 Iloilo-Cebu

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) ordered the Iloilo Airport runway closed on Friday, after an A320 aircraft of Cebu Pacific swerved to the left of Runway 20.

"We have made progress in moving the disabled aircraft; however, inclement weather has made it difficult to remove the aircraft. Moreover, the wheels of the aircraft are stuck in at least 20 inches of mud," the airline said in a statement on Monday.

"Rest assured we are exerting all efforts to clear the Iloilo Airport Runway at the soonest possible time," it added.

The Iloilo Airport resumed operations at 2:00 p.m.

Cebu Pacific has also provided additional flights to and from nearby Roxas Airport to accommodate affected passengers:

• 5J 357 - Manila-Roxas
• 5J 358 - Roxas-Manila

Other Cebu Pacific flights have also been rescheduled:

• 5J 261 - Iloilo-Puerto Princesa (from 9:25 a.m. ETD to 1:05 p.m. ETD)
• 5J 262 - Puerto Princesa-Iloilo (from 10:55 a.m. ETD to 2:45 p.m. ETD)
• 5J 457 - Manila-Iloilo (from 10:30 a.m. ETD to 1:10 p.m. ETD)
• 5J 449 - Manila-Iloilo (from 12:00 p.m. ETD to 2:10 p.m. ETD)
• 5J 450 - Iloilo-Manila (from 2:00 p.m. ETD to 3:50 p.m. ETD)
• 5J 165 - Iloilo-Cebu (from 12:30 p.m. ETD to 4:20 p.m. ETD)
• 5J 164 - Cebu-Iloilo (from 2:05 p.m. ETD to 5:30 p.m. ETD)
• 5J 695 - Iloilo-Cagayan de Oro (from 3:20 p.m. ETD to 6:45 p.m. ETD)
• 5J 696 - Cagayan de Oro- Iloilo (from 4:45 p.m. ETD to 8:10 p.m. ETD)
• 5J 458 - Iloilo-Manila (from 12:10 p.m. ETD to 2:55 p.m. ETD)
• 5J 462 - Iloilo-Manila (from 6:50 p.m. ETD to 9:35 p.m. ETD)

Affected passengers may ask for a refund or rebook for travel within 30 days from the original departure date with the usual fees waived.

For updates, please refresh this page. — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/VDS, GMA News