Cebu Pacific Cancels Flights Due to Typhoon Carina

By Ricky Bautista

TACLOBAN CITY — Cebu Pacific has cancelled multiple flights on Wednesday due to Typhoon Carina (International Name: Gaemi), which has severely affected operations at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Metro Manila.

In many provincial airports, passengers were left disappointed as their flights to Manila were cancelled. Several other flights were delayed because aircraft were stranded in Manila due to a flooded runway and heavy rainfall.

CEB ground crew assist passengers inquiring status of their outbound flights from Tacloban City to Manila, June 24. (Ricky Bautista)

In Tacloban City, Cebu Pacific ground crews at DZR airport assisted affected passengers, providing support amidst the challenges posed by the bad weather at NAIA. Passengers anxiously sought rebooking options, while airport authorities monitored the situation and occasionally mediated between the crews and frustrated travelers.

“Paano kami hindi maiinis, eh walang malinaw na paliwanag ang mga crew sa nangyayari. Paano namin malalaman na may bagyo sa Manila samantalang maganda naman ang panahon dito, maliban sa konting ambon,” said Juana, a passenger with a connecting flight to Mindanao.

By luck, some flights were not cancelled and passengers in those flights were all smiles.

On the evening of July 23, passengers of Flight No. 5J 652 were accommodated in a hotel around midnight but were forced to check out by 4 a.m. due to an available 6 a.m. flight.

“Ngayong umaga na, wala pa rin kaming byahe. May eroplano na pero walang pilot, sabi nasa Manila daw,” another frustrated passenger remarked.

Airline passengers affected by multiple delays and cancellations on their flights were getting impatients as they trooped to the CEB crew desks to ask for their flight status. (Ricky Bautista)

By 11 a.m., Flight No. 5J 652 departed Tacloban and safely arrived in Manila. However, subsequent flights were again cancelled.

In Advisory #3 issued around 12 noon on July 24, Cebu Pacific announced significant disruptions and advised passengers to anticipate cancellations and delays throughout the day.

“The closure of Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 4, where our Cebgo (DG) flights operate, due to flooding has rendered it inaccessible,” stated the CEB advisory.

All arriving DG flights will be redirected to NAIA Terminal 3. Passengers are urged to monitor flight statuses via Cebu Pacific’s flight status page and update their contact information through the Manage Booking portal to receive email notifications regarding flight updates and reminders.

“For safety reasons, passengers affected by cancellations are advised not to proceed to the airport and to avoid flooded roads,” the CEB advisory cautioned.

List of Additional Cancelled Flights for July 24, 2024:

5J 483/484: Manila – Bacolod – Manila

5J 659/660: Manila – Tacloban – Manila

5J 705/706: Manila – Dipolog – Manila

5J 773/774: Manila – Pagadian – Manila

5J 787/788: Manila – Butuan – Manila

5J 857/858: Manila – Zamboanga – Manila

5J 911/912: Manila – Caticlan – Manila

Earlier Today, in its 10 a.m. Advisory, the Following Flights Had Already Been Cancelled:

DG 6031/6032: Manila – San Jose – Manila

DG 6043/6044: Manila – Busuanga – Manila

DG 6047/6048: Manila – Busuanga – Manila

DG 6051/6052: Manila – Busuanga – Manila

DG 6055/6056: Manila – Busuanga – Manila

DG 6113/6114: Manila – Naga – Manila

DG 6117/6118: Manila – Naga – Manila

DG 6177/6178: Manila – Masbate – Manila

DG 6195/6196: Manila – Legazpi – Manila

DG 6197/6198: Manila – Legazpi – Manila

DG 6243/6244: Manila – Caticlan – Manila

DG 6247/6248: Manila – Caticlan – Manila

DG 6468/6469: Manila – Bacolod – Manila

DG 6837/6838: Manila – Siargao – Manila

DG 6839/6840: Manila – Siargao – Manila

DG 6841/6842: Manila – Siargao – Manila

DG 6507/6508: Manila – Cebu – Manila

5J 196/197: Manila – Cauayan – Manila

5J 323/324: Manila – Legazpi – Manila

5J 404/405: Manila – Laoag – Manila

5J 457/458: Manila – Iloilo – Manila

5J 487/488: Manila – Bacolod – Manila

5J 504/505: Manila – Tuguegarao – Manila

5J 506/507: Manila – Tuguegarao – Manila

5J 557/558: Manila – Cebu – Manila

5J 617/618: Manila – Tagbilaran – Manila

5J 639/640: Manila – Puerto Princesa – Manila

5J 649/650: Manila – Tacloban – Manila

5J 705/706: Manila – Dipolog – Manila

5J 853/854: Manila – Zamboanga – Manila

5J 909/910: Manila – Caticlan – Manila

5J 919/920: Manila – Caticlan – Manila

5J 993/994: Manila – General Santos – Manila

Yesterday, July 23, numerous flights were delayed or cancelled due to adverse weather conditions in Metro Manila. The airline advises affected passengers to update and monitor their booking portals for further notifications and instructions.