Use of Tacloban airport runway limited while undergoing rehab, construction

The ongoing runway rehabilitation at the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport in Tacloban has limited the utilization of the aviation hub, the safety regulator advised.

In an advisory, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said the usable runway length at the airport will be limited to 1,300 meters until December 25.

Hence, budget carriers Cebu Pacific and Tigerair Philippines had to cancel some of their flights to and from Tacloban from Monday to Thursday.

Passengers in the canceled flights may rebook their flights within 30 days from original departure date or request for a full travel fund or refund. The Tacloban airport is still recovering from damages brought about by Supertyphoon Yolanda (international code name Haiyan) which pummeled the Visayas region late last year.

Rehabilitation works are currently ongoing, with the transportation agency spending P143.2 million for the asphalt overlay and construction of a turnaround pad at the devastated gateway. The contract was awarded to Tacloban-based firm B.M. Marketing earlier this year.

Rehab works are expected to be finished within 240 days or sometime in the first half of 2015.

Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio A. Abaya earlier said his agency has tapped the Japan International Cooperation Agency to conduct a feasibility study on the possible relocation of the Tacloban airport.

The Roman pontiff will visit the Eastern Visayas city on January 17 to spend some time with the victims of the devastating typhoon, which left thousands of families homeless.  Pope Francis will celebrate Holy Mass in Tacloban, thereafter will meet the survivors of the super typhoon. All the commercial flight operations to and from Tacloban on the day of the Roman pontiff’s visit will be suspended for security purposes.

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines will host the pope to Tacloban from Manila, and back to Rome.

Source:  http://www.businessmirror.com.ph