Philippines: 9k passengers affected as 'technical glitch' leads to flight cancellations
31 domestic, 17 international flights affected by 'issue' with air traffic management
Manila: A 'technical glitch' with the navigational air traffic management system at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Monday led to delays and flight cancellations, affecting approximately 9,240 passengers.
As of 3 pm, data from the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) indicated that 48 flights —31 domestic and 17 international — were impacted.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) reported the technical issue with the airport's navigation system at 1:05 p., though MIAA Acting General Manager Eric Jose Ines stated that the glitch began at 11:27 am.
Issue resolved
CAAP's advisory mentioned that to ensure safety, they implemented "longer separation of departing flights." The problem was resolved by 2:02 pm, and regular flight operations were being restored.
During the resolution of the issue, flight delays and cancellations were inevitable. Cebu Pacific (CEB) reported that the Air Traffic Management Control resumed operations at 2:21 pm, but disruptions persisted as airlines worked to normalize operations.
Cebu-Pacific stated on X that an "issue with NAIA Air Traffic Management Centre" led to the cancellation of a number of flights.
The following 10 domestic flights were cancelled, according to local media:
5J 389/390: Manila – Cagayan De Oro – Manila
5J 455/456: Manila – Iloilo – Manila
5J 487/488: Manila – Bacolod – Manila
5J 557/558: Manila – Cebu – Manila
5J 955/956: Manila – Davao – Manila
Affected passengers can rebook their flights without fare difference for travel within 30 days from the original schedule. Alternatively, tickets can be refunded or stored in a virtual CEB wallet.
Philippine Airlines is also coordinating with aviation authorities to adjust flight schedules and clearances.