Runway damage cancels flights

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Several flights at the Zamboanga International Airport (ZIA) were either cancelled or diverted yesterday due to repairs on the runway. 

Reynaldo Alforte, officer-in-charge of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, said the machine used in the asphalt overlay project malfunctioned on Friday night, delaying the project and affecting inbound and outbound flights.  

Alforte said the 5:30 a.m. Manila-Zamboanga flight of Philippine Airlines was diverted to Cebu while the inbound Cebu Pacific Manila-Zamboanga flight was forced to return to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. 

Morning flights to Tawi-Tawi, Cebu and Manila were also affected.