Cebu airport resumes daytime flights

• Mactan-Cebu International Airport has resumed daytime flight operations on October 25

• The runway will be open for flights from 5:00am to 5:00pm daily for 14 days until the Korean Air jet that overshot the runway on October 23 is removed

• The cause of the incident is still being investigated by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines- Aircraft Accident Investigation and Inquiry Board

• Transfer of the aircraft is estimated to take two to three days depending on the weather

• Resumption of 24/7 operations is expected in two weeks pending repair of damaged approach lights

Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) has resumed daytime flight operations on October 25.

The runway will be open for flights from 5:00am to 5:00pm daily for 14 days until the Korean Air plane that overshot the runway on October 23 is removed and repairs are completed for the airport’s return to 24/7 operations, Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) assistant general manager Glenn Napuli said in a press conference on October 25.

Evening flights are still suspended due to damaged approach lights.

In a separate advisory, MCIA advised passengers to coordinate with their airlines for the status of their flights before proceeding to the airport.

Flights at the Visayas hub were suspended to allow for the removal of a Korean Air aircraft that overshot the runway amid heavy rains. The A330-300 aircraft from Incheon, South Korea, attempted to land twice before overshooting Runway 22 for about 300 meters on its third attempt.

READ: Korean Air plane overshoots Cebu runway; all flights suspended

All 162 passengers and 11 crew onboard flight KE631 were immediately evacuated and tended to by airport emergency personnel. No injuries were recorded and all passengers were allowed to head home.

Napuli said there was no damage to the runway and its lights but the approach lights and localizer at the side of Runway 04 were hit and will require repairs.

He said the cause of the incident is still bring investigated by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines- Aircraft Accident Investigation and Inquiry Board.

Korean Air president Woo Keehong in a statement on October 24 apologized for the incident and said a thorough investigation will be performed together with the local aviation authorities and Korean authorities.

Transfer of the aircraft is estimated to take up to three days depending on the weather, while resumption of 24/7 operations is expected in two weeks, Napuli said.

On October 24, cranes needed to transfer the aircraft were deployed and a group of Korean engineers arrived in MCIA.

Napuli said almost 200 flights from October 23 to 24 were affected by the incident. Help desks were set up to accommodate passengers affected by flight cancellations, while airlines and concerned government agencies also provided their assistance to affected passengers.

The runway was opened temporarily on October 24 to allow for the departure of a Jeju Air flight at 5:00pm.