MCIA to suspend midnight to 8 a.m. flights in September to give way to 15-day runway repair

MCIA PRIVATIZATION/JUNE 15, 2012: Engr. Nigiel Paul Villarete, Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) general manager shows list of Public Private Partnership projects before the media as he answers question regarding the reports news reports of PLDT chairman Manuel Pangilinan to privitize the Airport to propel Cebu tourist during press conference in his office.(CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

With the runway of the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) set to be closed for repair for 15 days in September, the airport’s authority (MCIAA) and operator, GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC), will hold meetings with airlines to prepare for them for flight cancellations from midnight to 8 a.m.

MCIAA information officer Mary Ann Dimabayao said the P240-million contract for the runway asphalting project is set to be up for publication for interested bidders.

It will take 14 days to do the project, which will involve total closure of the runway from midnight to 8 a.m.

Departures and arrivals within this time will have to be rescheduled by the airlines, she said.

Dimabayao said the rehabilitation is needed as the last asphalting of the runway was done in 2006 yet.

For its part, GMCAC is still waiting for coordination meetings with MCIAA.

GMCAC Chief Economic Adviser Andrew Harrison said they understood the need for the asphalting as a precautionary measure.

He said they would wait for the meetings so they could also give out advisories to airlines and other affected stakeholders.

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