Nearly 700 flights have flown in and out of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) since the runway was reopened on Saturday afternoon, the Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa) said on Sunday.
Miaa General Manager Ed Monreal said a total of 681 flights have already flown in and out of the country’s main airport. And these flights have served at least 136,200 local and international passengers.
“Since we opened the runway — 11:25 a.m. (on Saturday) kami nagbukas and until about 11:00 this morning (Sunday) — we have accounted a total of 681 flights, which consists of domestic and international operations,” Monreal said in a press conference.
He added that with an average of 200 passengers per flight, some 136,000 passenger have flown since the runway was reopened on Saturday.
But Senator Grace Poe on Sunday said she would file a Senate resolution to seek explanation from airport authorities over the Naia runaway mishap that caused disruptions to hundreds of international and domestic flights.
Poe, chair of the Senate Committee on Public Services, said she would direct her panel to inquire into the operational procedures in responding to such emergency situations and why it took about 36 hours to remove the stalled Chinese passenger aircraft from the main runway of Naia.
“Ano ba o meron nga bang standard operating procedure sa mga ganitong aksidente? This is not the first time that a plane has skidded off the runway and it certainly won’t be the last,” Poe said in a statement.
“Bakit inabot ng dalawang araw bago magsimula ulit ang operasyon ng Naia? Hindi ba kayang gawin ito nang mas mabilis para hindi gaanong naperwisyo ang libu-libong pasahero?” she asked.
On Thursday night, Xiamen Air Flight MF8667 skidded off the Naia runway and derailed hundreds of flights and stranded passengers.
“We will give time for airport authorities to have a complete report on the effects of the runway closure during and after the incident,” Poe added.