On January 15 the Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s (Naia) primary runway 06/24 and secondary runway 13/31 will be closed to all arriving flights, while departing flights will be allowed to operate from 2 to 5:15 p.m. From 5:15 to 6:15 p.m., a no-fly zone will be implemented and no air traffic will be accommodated due to Pope Francis’s aircraft arrival estimated at 5:45 p.m.
On January 17, when Pope Francis flies to Tacloban, the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport (Tacloban) will be closed to all commercial air traffic from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., except aircraft that carries the papal entourage, according to the Civil Aviaton Authority of the Philippines (Caap).
On the other hand, the Naia runways will be closed from 7:45 to 8:45 a.m. and from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m., when the pope’s aircraft will land at the Naia from Tacloban.
When the pope departs for Rome on January 19, the Naia authorities will only allow departing aircraft from 6 to 9:30 a.m. and a no-fly zone will be in effect from 9:30 until 10:30 a.m. This is where a Philippine Airlines plane will take off directly to Rome with the pope onboard, ending his four-day visit in the country.
The Caap said the 2,138-meter-long Tacloban runway would have been completed to 1,300 meters with an additional 500-meter extension set to complete by December 26, bringing the total to 1,800 meters. This is enough to accommodate single-aisle jet aircraft like Airbus A320 and Boeing B737-type aircraft.
Caap issued a notice-to-airmen on December 18, lifting aircraft restrictions in Tacloban, allowing commercial carriers to decide whether they can use bigger aircraft to fly to Tacloban.
Caap, on its Twitter account advisory, mentioned that aircraft-type restrictions at Tacloban Airport are lifted and A320-type aircraft will be allowed starting December 26.
Recto Mercene