Airport and airline officials were surprised when President Rodrigo Duterte suddenly arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport-Terminal 2 to conduct an inspection after flights were delayed on Sunday night.
In a Facebook post, the Manila International Airport Authority explained that ground movement and flights were suspended for at least 2.5 hours due to the red lightning alert issued from 6:40 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. Sunday.
The alert is issued to prevent untoward incidents whenever bolts of lightning strike in the immediate area.
Managers of Terminal 2 and Philippine Airlines briefed the President.
“President Duterte talked to airline and NAIA officials regarding the cancellations and delays to know whether there are flight diversions and if affected passengers are given incentives to ease their inconvenience,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo was quoted in a Philippine Star report as saying.
“He then talked to the passengers apologizing to them on the inconvenience caused by the disruptions. The President vowed to come up with a remedy within a month,” he added.
MIAA said NAIA experienced succession of flight arrivals early Monday morning as a result of delayed flights.
