By Ma. Cristina Arayata/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — Local carrier Cebu Pacific (CEB) has cancelled a total of 41 flights from June 9 to 10 as a result of the red lightning alert that authorities at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) announced Sunday evening.
The flights (eight international, 33 domestic) have been cancelled from Sunday night until Monday morning, following the flight delays and diversions the carrier experienced on Sunday night, CEB spokesperson Charo Lagamon told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
According to the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), the ramp movement for both the aircraft and ramp personnel was halted from 6 p.m. to 9:14 p.m. Operations resumed at 9:15 p.m. as the red lightning alert was lowered to yellow lightning alert and was subsequently lifted at 9:45 p.m.
The red lightning alert is a safety measure to prevent any untoward incident from happening when lightning is prevalent in the immediate area and may endanger passengers, personnel and flight operations, it added.
Meanwhile, CEB said it already notified passengers about the flight cancellations, and also gave them travel vouchers.
Affected passengers may rebook, reroute their flights; get a full refund; or place the full cost of ticket in a travel fund.
MIAA on Monday said all the diverted flights have already arrived at NAIA, and that some passengers were transported to Manila via bus. Normal operations have resumed.
President Rodrigo Duterte made a surprise visit at the airport in the wee hours of Monday, following reports on flight delays.
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