PAF Secures 12 Russian Helicopters

25 January 2020


Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte disclosed Thursday that he has secured orders for 12  Mi-17 medium-lift helicopters as its first official acquisition from Russia for the Philippine Air Force. Formal turnover of this cargo helicopters will be conducted during the first official state visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Philippines. Another four will be provided to the Philippines on official grant from Russia.  

The procurement has been officially signed during President Duterte’s visit to Russia in September last year. The Russian choppers, worth $14.7 million for every unit, are being acquired under the second phase of the military’s modernization program.

MNL Re-Opens

13 January 2020


Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) has re-opened Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) at noon today after changed in wind patterns were observed by Philvolcs favorable for airport operations at NAIA.

Airport Manager Ed Monreal disclosed that prior to its opening at 10 am for aircraft departure and 12 noon for aircraft arrivals they have been busy clearing ash debris at the runway, taxiways, and aprons.

MIAA has used vacuum cleaners and ARFF trucks to clear the runway and taxiway.

Monreal said clearing was still on going after it opens to arriving aircraft with planes ordered to fully stopped at the runway 06-24 in order to be towed to the stand, as taxiways are still being cleared of about half an inch thick of ash deposits.

Taal Eruption Closes NAIA Airport

12 January 2020
  • Airport, Airspace Closed 
  • 172 flights cancelled (96 arrivals, 76 departures)
  • 30,000 passengers affected
  • Ash reported on runway and taxiway
  • Ash accumulating on aircraft in tarmac both in MNL, CRK
  • Clark airport Re-Opens

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) closes NAIA at 6:00p.m. due to Taal volcano eruption as its volcanic ash emissions has reached the skies of Manila. Affected Manila bound flights are being diverted to Clark International Airport.

The latest Notice to Airman (NOTAM) described the closure to last until 6:00 am tomorrow  or until prevailing wind change direction according to latest pronouncement by CAAP upon advisory from Philvolcs. Scheduled flight departures are expected to be delayed.

Ten arriving flights in NAIA before it was closed reported ash ingestion to its engine upon close inspection.

MIAA Manager Ed Monreal disclosed that it already recorded presence of ash in the runway and taxiway. Ash debris is also starting to accumulate over aircraft parked at the airport tarmac.

Meanwhile, Clark International Airport was Closed before midnight as it was also affected with ash fall.

The following flights have been cancelled due to volcanic ash emissions.

Cancelled flights for January 13:
China Eastern Airlines MU 5045 PVG - CRK
China Eastern Airlines MU 5046 CRK - PVG
Xiamen Air MF 8697 JJN - CRK
Xiamen Air MF 8698 CRK - JJN
Philippine Airlines PR 490 CRK - ICN
AirSWIFT T6 208 CRK-ENI

Update:
6am 13 January 2020, Monday
286 Flights affected
CANCELLED

PHILIPPINE AIRLINES
International
PR 596 HAN-MNL
PR 218 MNL-AKL
PR 115 SFO-MNL
PR 105 SFO-MNL
PR 103 LAX-MNL
PR 117 YVR-MNL
PR 119 YYZ-MNL
PR 127 JFK-MNL
PR 125 LAX-MNL
PR 510/511 SIN-MNL-SIN
PR 890/891 MNL-TPE-MNL
PR 591/592 MNL-SGN-MNL
PR 525/526 MNL-KUL-MNL
PR 427/428 NRT-MNL-NRT
PR 334/335 MNL-XMN-MNL
PR 300/301 MNL-HKG-MNL
PR 538 MNL-DPS
PR 530 KUL-MNL
PR 423 MNL-HND
PR 635/536 MNL-CGK-MNL
PR 361 MNL-PEK
PR 111 GUM/MNL
PR 313 HKG-MNL
PR 502 SIN-MNL
PR 301 HKG-MNL
PR 101 HNL-MNL
PR 208 MNL-MEL
PR 214 SYD-MNL
PR 306/307 MNL-HKG-MNL
PR 730/731 MNL-BKK-MNL

Domestic
PR 1809/1810 MNL-DVO-MNL
PR 1841/1842 MNL-CEB-MNL
2P 2993/2994 MNL-ZAM-MNL
2P 2519/2520 MNL-CGY-MNL
2P 2129/2130 MNL-BCD-MNL
2P 2139/2140 MNL-ILO-MNL
2P 2921/2922 MNL-LGP-MNL
2P 2889/2890 MNL-OZC-MNL
2P 2835/1836 MNL-CEB
PR 1781/1782 MNL-PPS-MNL
2P 2967/2968 MNL-BXU-MNL
2P 2039/2040 MNL-MPH-MNL
PR 453/454 MNL-GES-MNL
PR 1811/1812 MNL-DVO-DVO
PR 1845/1846 MNL-CEB-MNL
2P 2541/2542 MNL-DGT-MNL
2P 2981/2982 MNL-TAC-MNL
2P 2203/2204 MNL-RXS-MNL
2P 2557/2558 MNL-DPL-MNL

CEBU PACIFIC
International
5J 367 MFM-MNL
5J 752 SGN-MNL
5J 363 MFM-MNL
5J 287 CAN-MNL
5J 929/930 MNL-BKK-MNL
5J 187 ICN-MNL
5J 311 TPE-MNL
5J 931/932 MNL-BKK-MNL
5J 760 CGK-MNL
5J 734 BKI-MNL
5J 502 KUL-MNL
5J 679 PVG-MNL
5J 673 PEK-MNL
5J 804 SIN-MNL
5J 115 HKG-MNL
5J 827 KIX-MNL
5J 5039 NGO-MNL
5J 5057 NRT-MNL
5J 744/745 MNL-HAN-MNL
5J 110/111 MNL-HKG-MNL
5J 813/814 MNL-SIN-MNL
5J 279/280 MNL-DPS-MNL
5J 312/313 MNL-TPE-MNL
5J5054/5055 MNL-NRT-MNL
5J 272/273 MNL-HKG-MNL
5J 050 MEL-MNL

Domestic
5J 991/992 MNL-GES-MNL
5J 451/452 MNL-GES-MNL
5J 451/452 MNL-ILO-MNL
5J 963/964 MNL-DVO-MNL
5J 563/564 MNL-CEB-MNL
5J 383/384 MNL-CGY-MNL
5J 473/474 MNL-BCD-MNL
5J 447/448 MNL-ILO-MNL
5J 997/998 MNL-GES-MNL
5J 565/566 MNL-CEB-MNL
5J 637/638 MNL-PPS-MNL
5J 849/850 MNL-ZAM-MNL
5J 895/896 MNL-MPH-MNL
5J 617/618 MNL-TAG-MNL
5J 504/505 MNL-TUG-MNL
5J 975 MNL-DVO
5J 966 DVO-MNL
5J 625/626 MNL-DGT-MNL
5J 331/332 MNL-KLO-MNL

AIR ASIA
International
Z2 288 DMK-MNL
Z2 232 DPS-MNL
AK 584/585 KUL-MNL-KUL
Z2 889 ICN-MNL
Z2 129 TPE-MNL
Z2 139 CAN-MNL
Z2 019 PVG-MNL
Z2 285/286 CMK-MNL-CMK
Z2 1264/1265 MNL-HKG-MNL
Z2 884/885 MNL-ICN-MNL
Z2 942/943 MNL-KUL-MNL
Z2 188/189 MNL-KIX-MNL
Z2 124/125 MNL-TPE-MNL

Domestic
Z2 316 ILO-MNL
Z2 757/758 MNL-CEB-MNL
Z2 762 CEB-MNL
Z2 625/626 MNL-DVO-MNL
Z2 616 DVO-MNL
Z2 8788/8789 MNL-CEB-MNL
Z2 774 CEB-MNL
Z2 622 DVO-MNL
Z2 318 ILO-MNL
Z2 689/690 MNL-CGY-MNL
Z2 755/756 MNL-CEB-MNL
Z2 306/307 MNL-ILO-MNL
Z2 322/323 MNL-TAC-MNL
Z2 432/433 MNL-PPS-MNL
Z2 780/781 CEB-MNL-CEB
Z2 782/783 CEB-MNL-CEB
Z2 426/427 MNL-PPS-MNL
Z2 763/764 MNL-CEB-MNL
Z2 611/612 MNL-DVO-MNL
Z2 320/321 MNL-TAC-MNL
Z2 350/351 MNL-TAG-MNL
Z2 691/692 MNL-CGY-MNL
Z2 603/604 MNL-BCD-MNL
Z2 219/220 MNL-MPH-MNL
Z2 331/322 MNL-TAC-MNL
Z2 711/712 MNL-KLO-MNL
Z2 775/776 MNL-CEB-MNL
Z2 221/222 MNL-MPH-MNL
Z2 358/359 MNL-TAG-MNL

CATHAY PACIFIC
CX 939 HKG-MNL
CX 976 MNL-HKG
CX 918/919 MNL-HKG-MNL
CX 934/935 MNL-HKG-MNL

ALL NIPPON AIRWAYS
NH 820 MNL-NARITA

DELTA AIRLINES
DL 180 MNL-NRT

MALAYSIAN AIRLINES
MH 805 MNL-KUL

OMAN AIR
WY 844 MNL-MCT

CHINA SOUTHERN AIRLINES
CZ 8493/8494 CAN-MNL-CAN
CZ 3091/3092 CAN-MNL-CAN

EVA AIR
BR 262 MNL-TPE

AIR CHINA
CA 179 PEK-MNL

CHINA EASTERN AIRLINES
MU 211/212 PVG-MNL-PVG

CHINA AIRLINES
CI 701/702 ICN-MNL-ICN

MALAYSIAN AIRLINES
MH 806/807 KUL-MNL-KUL
MH 704/705 KUL-MNL-KUL

TOTAL: 242


Update:
12pm 13 January 2020, Monday
Airport re-opens with President Duterte's aircraft as first arrival followed by PAL flights from New York, Doha and Dubai
Airport Operation subject to wind directional patterns

PAL Flies SEA

Resumes CEB-LAX

5 January 2020

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines is re-introducing flight to Seattle beginning 3 May 2020 with thrice a week service on A350 every Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday. Flight schedules are listed as follows:

PR128 MNL2245 – 1945SEA 350 137
PR129 SEA2305 – 0335+1MNL 350 137

Meanwhile, PAL intends to resume thrice a week Cebu – Los Angeles service beginning 2 May 2020 every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, using Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The airline last operated this route two years ago using Airbus A340-300 but temporarily stopped service on May 2017 due to operational requirements.

Flight schedules are listed as follows:

PR152 CEB2100 – 1930LAX 773 246
PR153 LAX2230 – 0500+2CEB 773 246