The UAE flights to Cebu and Manila have been cancelled as inclement weather conditions have led to the closure of Mactan-Cebu International Airport.
In the UAE, the Philippines airline has had to cancel two flights to Cebu that were scheduled to depart from Dubai on Sunday and Monday. It also cancelled a flight from Cebu to Manila on Tuesday, media reports said.
The airline, according to the reports, cancelled three flights scheduled on Sunday to Manila and has had to cancel Flight 5J 014 from Manila to Dubai on Monday “due to operational limitations”.
Cebu Pacific said travellers can rebook flights within 60 days at no additional cost and the fare difference would be waived. If travellers wish to store the amount in a virtual wallet, they can do so for two years and use the money to pay for a new flight or travel add-ons. Refunds are also available, but the process may take up to two months from the date of request.
Emirates Airline also had to cancel a stop in Cebu. “Due to adverse weather and the temporary closure of Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Emirates flight EK 338 on December 18, which was scheduled to operate from Dubai to Clark via Cebu, did not stop in Cebu and operated directly to Clark,” a representative of the airline was quoted as saying in the local media report.
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Etihad Airways, the UAE’s national airline, does not fly to Cebu and all of its other Philippines flights remain unaffected, it was reported.
The airport closures have come in the wake of the severe weather caused by Typhoon Odette. Authorities said that the damage at the airport sustained in the typhoon was being assessed.
The first international flight will be allowed to land at 6am on Tuesday.
Due to severe weather, tens of thousands of people in the Philippines fled their homes and beachfront resorts.
As the powerful typhoon lashed the archipelago at least 21 people have been killed.
Typhoon Odette, known locally as Odette, was driven by powerful winds as it barrelled towards central and southern regions of the vast archipelago.
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The GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation advisory said that at 6:52pm of Dec 16, 2021, airport operations have been suspended “until further notice due to the damage caused by Typhoon Odette (Odette).”
The authorities said passenger and “employee safety remain our no 1 priority” adding flights are also canceled “until further notice”.
The authorities said that they are closely coordinating with the different government agencies and “airline partners regarding announcements on the resumption of flights. We urge all passengers to stay at home until the resumption of flights is announced.”
“The Mactan Cebu International Airport is in the process of restoring regular services after sustaining damage in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Odette,” read an advisory from Cebu Pacific. (AW)
