Several international and domestic flights on Monday were delayed and canceled due to technical glitches at the Air Traffic Management Center (ATMC) of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).
CAAP identified the potential problem with the ATMC software.
“To ensure the safety of the flying public, CAAP decided to be conservative and manage the operations by providing longer separation of departing flights,” the agency said in its advisory.
CAAP information officer Karen Villanda said that since traffic coming in and out of Manila is affected, an air traffic management contingency procedure is in place to ensure safety.
“To reiterate, communication and surveillance at the ATMC remain available and unaffected. Only departing flights are experiencing longer separation intervals,” she said.
Manila International Airport Authority chief information officer Connie Bungag said the airport management is “already assisting passengers who are affected.”
In a public advisory, the Philippine Airlines said several flights of PAL and other airlines “will need to be delayed or canceled today, May 20, 2024, as a result of technical issues with the navigational air traffic management system for the Manila area which is affecting departures and arrivals of scheduled flights.”
For flights to or from Manila, PAL management advised travelers to check the status of their trips before proceeding to the airport.
Other local airlines also issued statements on the matter.
AirAsia Philippines said: “We wish to seek your assistance in helping us inform our guests on the present situation at the various airports where we operate.”
“CEB is coordinating with the necessary authorities on when the situation will normalize,” Cebu Pacific similarly stated.