AirAsia Philippines announced the cancellation of four domestic flights after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) declared Alert Level 3 due to the eruption of Mt. Kanlaon early Tuesday morning.
Canceled were flights between Manila and Bacolod.
“The safety of our flight crew and guests is always a top priority. To minimize any inconvenience brought by the cancellations, AirAsia is offering standard recovery options (SRO’s) in strict adherence to Air Passenger Bill of Rights (APBR) to ensure travel plans of our guests may push through once the situation improves,” said AirAsia Communications and Corporate Affairs Head, First Officer Steve Dailisan.
Since this is a developing situation, air travelers going to Cebu, Tagbilaran and Iloilo may also experience delays as the route to these destinations are closely monitored for any potential ash cloud coverage.
“AirAsia is closely coordinating with aviation authorities for timely sharing of relevant information among our guests via registered SMS, email, AirAsia MOVE app and our official social media platforms,” Dailisan said.
On Tuesday, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) to avoid flying near Kanlaon Volcano.
CAAP said the Kanlaon Volcano remains under Alert Level 3, indicating a high level of volcanic unrest. “Flight operations are advised to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit due to the potential hazards posed by volcanic ash,” it noted.