Local airlines canceled at least 30 flights due to adverse weather brought on by the southwest monsoon (habagat), leaving thousands of passengers stranded on Tuesday, July 22, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).
As of 1:00 PM on July 22, the CAAP reported that 30 flights had been canceled and three more diverted. CAAP provided an earlier tally of 13 canceled flights, affecting 2,160 passengers, as of 9:00 AM on the same day.
“Passengers are advised to check the status of their flights with respective airlines regularly. CAAP continues to monitor the weather and coordinate with airlines and airport authorities to ensure the safe movement of air traffic,” CAAP said.
Of the total canceled flights, 28 were from Cebu Pacific and its subsidiary, CebGo, while two were from Philippine Airlines, CAAP said.
In a statement, Cebu Pacific disclosed that affected passengers may choose from three options: free rebooking without additional fees, a travel fund where they can store fare in a virtual wallet for future use, or a full ticket refund.
“Passengers are advised that further delays and cancellations may occur in the coming days, depending on the weather conditions. We are working closely with airport authorities and operational teams to mitigate the impact as much as possible.” Cebu Pacific stated.
CEB is also offering flexible options to passengers who wish to postpone their flights to and from Manila scheduled from July 22 to 25. They may be eligible for a free rebooking and travel refund up to two hours before their scheduled departure time.
Meanwhile, AirAsia Philippines encouraged its guest to stay updated on the flight status through their website. “ We advise our guest to be at the airport earlier than usual, at least 3 hours for domestic and four hours for international flights, and be guided by road closures and flooded areas as advised by their respective local government units.”AirAsia Philippines’ Communication and Corporate Affairs head, Steve Dailisan, a first officer, said.
