Many of the airports that were affected by the typhoon are still experiencing commercial power outage and telecommunication signal loss, the country's aviation regulator said.
The country's aviation regulator announced today (December 20) that 21 airports on the path of Typhoon "Odette" have resumed operations, but are still closed for commercial flights.
Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) spokesman Eric Apolonio said CAAP-operated airports that are operational: Busuanga Airport, Puerto Princesa International Airport, Bicol International Airport, Caticlan Airport, Kalibo International Airport, Roxas Airport, Bohol-Panglao International Airport, Tacloban Airport, Ormoc Airport, Laguindingan Airport, Cotabato Airport, Davao International Airport, General Santos Airport and Butuan Airport.
Meanwhile, the following airports are still operational despite having sustained damage caused by the typhoon: San Vicente Airport, Antique Airport, Bacolod-Silay Airport, Iloilo International Airport, Dumaguete Airport, Maasin Airport, Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA).
The MCIA is operated by Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority but the CAAP maintains technical facilities in the airport.
Apolonio noted that some of the airports mentioned have already resumed operations a few days ago.
Meanwhile, Surigao and Siargao airports, which are also operated by CAAP, remain closed except for government, military, emergency, cargo, and humanitarian flights.
"Many of the airports that were affected by the typhoon are still experiencing commercial power outage and telecommunication signal loss. To restore communication channels, CAAP has dispatched satellite phones to the airports that will be needing them most," Apolonio said.
Meanwhile, Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Monday said that from December 16 to the present, an estimated 20,000 passengers were affected by flight cancellations due to "Odette."
"Our flights to/from Siargao are humanitarian flights carrying donations of the Tan Yan Kee Foundation, the CSR arm of the LT Group of Companies. Donations are distilled water for Siargao residents. Commercial operations have yet to resume," PAL spokesman Cielo Villaluna said, adding, "Our PPS (Puerto Princesa) operations have resumed today."
Villaluna said that only Siargao remained closed to commercial operations while its Mactan-Cebu domestic operations have resumed.
International flights to and from Cebu has remained suspended.
As of posting, CAAP issued a Notice-to-airmen (Notam) that airport operations at San Vicente Airport was suspended effective December 20 at 4:13 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. ofDecember 21, 2021.
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