The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said Surigao Airport and Siargao Airport remain closed due to the damages left by Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai).
CAAP announced Monday that the two airports are only open for government/military, emergency, cargo, and humanitarian flights.
“Most of the airports that were affected by the typhoon are still experiencing commercial power and telecommunication signal loss,” the CAAP said in an advisory released via mobile message.
“To restore communication channels, CAAP has dispatched satellite phones to the airports that will be needing them most,” it added.
According to CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio, it is still uncertain when the commercial operation of Surigao and Siargao airport will resume. However, budget carrier Cebu Pacific said flight cancellation could last until February 2022.
Only cargo flights are allowed from Manila to Siargao. Meanwhile, trips from the island to Manila are sweeper flights to bring home tourists stranded in Siargao due to typhoon Odette.
Cebu Pacific expects Surigao, Siargao flight cancellations until February 2022
“The situation continues to evolve. We expect the situation to get better over time, but for now, this is what we’re doing,” Cebu Pacific Vice President for Marketing and Customer Experience Candice Iyog said.
CAAP said San Vicente Airport, the Antique Airport, Bacolod-Silay Airport, Iloilo International Airport, Dumaguete Airport, Maasin Airport, and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport are still operational.
Busuanga Airport, the Puerto Princesa International Airport, Bicol International Airport, Caticlan Airport, the Kalibo International Airport, Roxas Airport, Bohol-Panglao International Airport, Tacloban Airport, Ormoc Airport, and Laguindingan Airport are also operational.
Also operational are the Cotabato Airport, Davao International Airport, General Santos Airport, and Butuan Airport.
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police reported that as of Monday, December 20, 208 people were reportedly killed during the onslaught of Typhoon Odette last week.
According to the PNP, 129 died in Central Visayas, 24 in Western Visayas, seven in Northern Mindanao, six in Eastern Visayas, 41 in Caraga Region, and one in Zamboanga.
The PNP report added that 239 people were injured, while 52 went missing.
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