NAIA Operations May Take Days to Normalize

Operations at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila are expected to normalize within the next three days following a power outage that disrupted the airport’s air traffic control system, causing hundreds of flight cancellations and delays, and over 50,000 individuals stranded in the Philippines’ flagship airport.

According to Cesar M. Chiong, General Manager of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), the outage, which affected around 300 flights, was caused by the failure of the primary and backup power supply for the communications, navigation, and surveillance/air traffic management (CNS/ATM) system.

He added that it might take a couple of days for NAIA’s operations to normalize.

“The passengers might be accommodated around January 4 to 5,” Chiong said.

Moreover, he added that they are in coordination with carriers to bring in aircraft that could accommodate more passengers.

“We’re coordinating not just with the local carriers, but also with the foreign carriers if they can upgrade the type of aircraft that they will operate here in NAIA so that we can accommodate more passengers,” Chiong added.

Chiong also said that MIAA is working to expedite the implementation of a backup air traffic system.

Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said in a statement that it is investigating the cause of the power supply problem to the CNS/ATM system, which Director General Manuel Tamayo admitted was already “outdated.”

Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said in an interview with ANC that the government is not ruling out the possibility of an external attack as a potential cause of the outage. However, he added that it is unlikely. (GFB)