CAAP Limits NAIA Capacity

Cancels Excess Flights 

8 January 2021

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has limited departure and arrival capacity at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) effectively cancelling 104 flights after the government raised covid alert level in Metro Manila.

CAAP said the new directive will mainly affect domestic flights at Terminal 2 and 3 as NAIA reduces terminal capacity to 30% in compliance with alert level 3 directive, beginning today until January 15, 2022.

Pursuant to the terminal restrictions, Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and AirAsia has cancelled some of its domestic flights affected by this restrictions.

CEB Affected flights include those from Manila to Kalibo, Legazpi, Tacloban, Boracay (Caticlan), Iloilo, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato, Davao, Cebu, Bohol (Tagbiliran), Cauayan, Puerto Princesa, Iloilo, Coron (Busuanga), Dipolog, and Legazpi.  

Cebu Pacific stated that “the situation remains fluid, additional flight cancellations may take place in the coming days,” 

PAL affected flights include those to Davao, Cebu, Iloilo, Tagbilaran, Dumaguete, Tacloban, Cagayan, Butuan, Caticlan, Busuanga, Legaspi, and Cotabato.

The airline said most of the affected flights depart and arrive in the morning, making tremendous congestion at the pre-departure and arrival areas that violate safety protocol and social distancing rules.

The airline also reported that some cancellations were caused by operational requirements after most of its staff was tested positive for corona virus after the new year, requiring their quarantine to avoid infecting people. 

PAL said many of its airport employees failed to report to work due to the spiraling infection.

Restriction do not apply to international arriving passengers however as they will need to undergo mandatory quarantine restriction, as compared to domestic passengers that doesn't require one.