By: Emme Rose Santiagudo
International flights in Kalibo International Airport in Aklan province are still suspended as of Thursday as the airport was also badly hit by typhoon Ursula.
Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) reported that the Kalibo airport suffered heavy damages particularly in the ceiling of its terminal building.
“Nakakas ang ceiling sang aton terminal building so international and domestic flight operations naton may suspension,” Efren Nagrama, CAAP area manager for Western Visayas, said in a phone interview on Thursday.
Despite the damages, CAAP said the domestic arrival and check-in areas of the passenger terminal building (PTB) can still be used.
Since December 25, CAAP issued suspension of the international airport operations to give way for the clearing and restoration of the terminal building.
Nagrama said domestic operations were initially planned to resume on Friday at 8:00 a.m. but after CAAP’s meeting with stakeholders on Thursday, it was determined that the airport is able to resume domestic operations by 5 p.m. of Dec. 26.
Nagrama said they have to ensure the safety of the passengers and the workers before going back to normal operations.
“We have only limited operations for now, particularly only domestic flights until we restore the damages,” he said.
According to Nagrama, an average of 60 international arrival and departure flights and 18 domestic arrival and departure flights are currently affected.
Meanwhile, the Roxas City Airport also sustained minor damages from the typhoon but the airport is still fully operational on Thursday.
Nagrama said there were leaks in the ceiling of the airport and minor damage on the control tower.
“Naga-leak lang ang aton ceiling sa control tower pero normal operation kay nag-relocate lang ang operation sang admin building,” he said.
However, communications in the airport have been downgraded to advisory service from the usual aerodrome control (tower) communications.
Due to damages at the Control Tower Building, the Roxas airport will open for day operations only (not for night operations), CAAP added.