Operations at the Mactan Cebu International Airport was suspended during the afternoon and evening of Saturday, July 12 following the closure of the main runway for emergency repair work.
Operations at the Mactan Cebu International Airport was suspended during the afternoon and evening of Saturday, July 12 following the closure of the main runway for emergency repair work.
The runway closure was announced by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines on July 12, taking place between 1510H to 2100H (PhST) for urgent repairs to the damage pavement on the main runway of the Philippines' second busiest air hub (4R/22L).
According to a report from The Daily Tribune, potholes were discovered on the runway which required emergency repairs.
In a series of posts published on the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Facebook page, airport operator Aboitiz InfraCapital reported the secondary runway was operational from 1735H. A subsequent post at 2229H reported the repair work at the primary runway was completed as of 1930H in the evening. “Flight operations have resumed, and all airport activities are back to normal” the airport operator added.
While there is no estimate of the total number of flights affected by the runway closure, Philippine Airlines reported around 32 one-way flights were cancelled while Cebu Pacific reported 31.
On the following day (July 13), the Philippine Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced it is investigating the cause of the damage.
In a report by The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Transport Secretary Vince Dizon was asked how big the asphalt damage was, to which he answered: “It’s not that much but safety first when it comes to landing and taking off of airplanes. It should not be compromised.”
Dizon noted the runway was last repaired in 2018 or 2020 based on reports presented to him.
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