Manila airport shut down for 24 hours as supertyphoon Goni hits islands, more than 60 Philippine flights affected

MANILA: Flight operations at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport here had been shut down, affecting at least 60 inbound and outbound flights from November 1 due to a supertyphoon pummeling the eastern parts of the Philippines from Sunday. The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) announced that the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) would be closed to all types of flight operations from November 1 to November 2, 2020.

Halt in flight operations from 10am, November 1

NAIA, Manila's only international airport, will temporarily halt flight operations from 10 am on November 1 to 10 am on November 2, according to a MIAA flight advisory as of 10pm on Saturday (October 31, 2020). Weathermen said Goni (local code: "Rolly"), which packs up to 265 kph (164 mph) of gusts, is rated as Tropical Storm Signal No. 4 (equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic) now barreling through Cantanduanes, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines and Quezon provinces on Sunday morning.

Residents shared videos of the typhoon's initial landfall, taken early on Sunday:

"In order to protect the safety of air passengers and personnel from the threats of Typhoon Rolly (Goni), and as a result of a meeting this afternoon with the Airline Operators Council (AOC), the Air Carriers Association of the Philippines (ACAP), the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and Pagasa NAIA station, the Manila International Airport Authority announces the 24-hour closure of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to all typesp of flight operations from 10am of November 1 to 10am of November 2," it said in a statement.

“Violent winds and intense rainfall associated with the inner rainband-eyewall region will be experienced over Catanduanes, Camarines Provinces tomorrow early morning through afternoon and over Quezon tomorrow afternoon through evening,” weathermen said in a statement on Saturday.

Following is the list of cancelled flights so far, based on a social media statement from MIAA.

International Flights cancelled on October 31, 2020

(PR) Philippine Airlines, November 1, 2020

NAIA Terminal 2 (PR) Philippine Airlines

International Flights:

(PR) Philippine Airlines Domestic Flights

NAIA Terminal 3 (Etihad Airways)

NAIA Terminal 3 (5J) Cebu Pacific

NAIA Terminal 3 (DG) CebGo

Canceled flights November 2, 2020 (Monday) due to bad weather as of 2000H – 10/31/2020

NAIA Terminal 1 (PR) Philippine Airlines

NAIA Terminal 2 (PR) Philippine Airlines

International Flights

Domestic Flights (PR) Philippine Airlines

During the 24-hour closure, the NAIA Terminals would be closed, and passengers were advised not go to the NAIA during the closure. Passengers were also advised to immediately coordinate with their airlines for instructions on their new flight schedules.

Once the NAIA reopens at 10 am on November 2, priority will be given to scheduled flights on the same day. Flights affected by the 24-hour closure will be slotted in a way that would cause a minimal delay in the passengers' travel plans, MIAA stated.