• CHERYL G. CRUZ
Several flights were cancelled following the May 13 moderately explosive eruption of Mount Kanlaon in Negros Island.
Cebu Pacific, in its 6 p.m. advisory, cancelled the May 13 flights DG 6414/6415: Cebu-Iloilo-Cebu, DG 6454/6455: Cebu-Bacolod-Cebu, 5J 242: Iloilo-Hong Kong, 5J 459/460: Manila-Iloilo-Manila, 5J 461/462: Manila-Iloilo-Manila, 5J 467: Manila-Iloilo, 5J 471/472: Manila-Bacolod-Manila, 5J 477/478: Manila-Bacolod-Manila, 5J 1135/1136: Clark-Iloilo-Clark, 5J 2590/2591: Davao-Bacolod-Davao, 5J 4080/4081: Cebu-Iloilo-Cebu, 5J 4709/4708: Iloilo-Davao-Iloilo, and 5J 4868: Cagayan De Oro-Iloilo.
It also cancelled several flights scheduled today, May 14, including DG 6416/6417: Cebu-Iloilo-Cebu, 5J 243: Hong Kong-Iloilo, 5J 468: Iloilo-Manila, and 5J 473/474: Manila-Bacolod-Manila.
“Due to the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon this morning and the subsequent presence of volcanic ash in the surrounding airspace, Cebu Pacific has made the precautionary decision to cancel (these) flights,” it added. “The safety of our passengers and crew remains our highest priority. Affected passengers have been informed via email and provided with the options” regarding their cancelled flights.
The Philippine Airlines also cancelled Manila-Bacolod-Manila flights PR 2129/PR 2130, PR 2131/PR 2132, PR 2133/PR 2134, PR 2135/PR 2136, and PR 2137/PR 2138, as well as Cebu-Bacolod-Cebu flights PR 2285/PR 2286 and PR 2287/PR 2288.
AirAsia also canceled eight domestic flights scheduled May 13, including Z2 603/604, Z2 8601/602, Z2 609/610 Manila-Bacolod-Manila, and Z2 309/310 Manila-Iloilo-Manila, as per the Philippine News Agency.
“Since this is a developing situation, guests flying to Cebu, Tagbilaran, and Iloilo may also experience delays as the route to these destinations are closely monitored for any potential ash cloud coverage,” AirAsia said in an advisory.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) for flights near Kanlaon Volcano following the five-minute eruption that started 2:55 a.m. “(This NOTAM is) from May 13 at 5:33 a.m. to May 14 at 2:55 a.m.”
Mount Kanlaon is on Alert Level 3. Flight operations are advised to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit due to the potential hazards posed by volcanic ash, the CAAP stressed. | CGC
