MIAA: 681 flights in and out of NAIA since runway re-opening

More than 600 flights have already flown into and out of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) since the re-opening of its runway on Saturday, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said.

"Since we opened the runway... since 11:25 as of yesterday, 11:25 kami nagbukas and until about 11 this morning, we have accounted a total of 681 flights which consists of domestic and international operations," MIAA general manager Ed Monreal said in a press briefing on Sunday.

"That's about, lagay na natin sa average of 200 passengers per flight... so that's about... we have lifted 136,200 on the average passengers, in and out Manila and the counting is still ongoing," Monreal added.

The NAIA international runway was reopened just before Saturday noon, 36 hours after Xiamen Air Flight MF8667 skidded off the runway late Thursday night due to heavy rains.

The incident resulted in the cancellation of dozens of flights, stranding thousands of passengers in the airport. Monreal said, however, that the number continues to deccrease.

"Actually nabawasan na as opposes to the first day; halos hindi mahulugan ng karayom 'yung tao lalo sa Terminal 1. Based on reports, ang Terminal 1 na lang ang malaki ang problema, ang 2, 3 halos... I can't say normal, but hindi na po ganon karami ang pasahero sa lobby ng paliparan," he said.

Monreal asked airline companies to see to their passengers' basic needs.

"'Yan po ay definitely on humanitarian side. Alam ko may expense ito, pero ang una mong isipin sana, hindi ko sila inoobliga o minamandohan, but at the end of the day, let's look at humanitarian reason na siguro dapat magawan ng aksyon na asikasuhin naman 'yung ating mga pasahero. At the end of the day it's more on moral obligation," he said.

In a separate Balitanghali interview, consumer advocacy group Laban Konsyumer Inc. echoed Monreal's remarks, saying that airline firms must provide necessary and adequate amenities for the affected passengers.

"Kung ang delay at cancellation eh ang primary reason eh 'yung eroplano na sasakyan ng pasahero, nagkaroon ng aberya hours or days, obligasyon po ng airline na bigyan ng tinatawag nating necessary amenities ang kaniyang mga pasahero. Kung aabutin ng magdamag, kailangan ilipat sila sa hotel and then kasama na 'yung pagkain. Libre at walang cancellation fees 'yung kanilang rebooking," said group president Victorio Dimagiba.

"'Yun po dapat ginawa ng airline companies. Subalit sabi ko nga, 'yung pangyayari was not cause by the airline themselves, secondary na 'yung causes ng delay. Ganon pa man, kailangan magbigay na rin ang airline companies ng tinatawag nating necessary food, amenities," Dimagiba added.

MIAA chief Monreal also appealed to airline companies to coordinate with airport officials regarding the schedules of "recovery" flights in order to avoid further problema.

"Marami ho akong nakuhang impormasyon na may mga airlines ho na nag-mount ng recovery flights without letting us know, so nagkaroon ho ng pressure sa mga gates. May mga flights na matagal naiposisyon kasi di namin alam na may darating. 'Yun ang pinakiusap ko sa kanila, before mounting any recovery flights, makipag-coordinate sila sa amin. Doon ho tayo nagkaroon ng problema," Monreal said.

"Hindi naman tayo ganon kalaki, we base on schedules. Hindi lang ho CAAP [Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines] ang dapat masabihan nila, pati ho authority," he added.

Ban on Xiamen?

Asked if the MIAA would ban Xiamen Air, Monreal said that it is still conducting a probe into the incident. He also noted that the MIAA is not the only agency that will make a decision on the matter.

"We're still conducting investigation who's responsible for the incident. But at the end of the day, I'm sure hindi ho natin ginusto to. It's not for me to decide, there's a lot to process, meron ho tayong ahensya," Monreal said.

"We'll evaluate and we'll see who will be the responsible agency to summon or to sanction those airlines responsible," he added.

The plane was lifted from the runway around 2 a.m. on Saturday and transferred to the remote parking bay of Balabag Aviation Complex.

Around 150 flights have been canceled due the incident, while others were diverted to the Clark International Airport. — BM, GMA News