AMN/ WEB DESK
Authorities in the Philippines halted flights in and out of Manila on New Year’s Day due to a malfunction of air traffic control, which also prevented airlines bound for other destinations from using the country’s airspace. This led to a disruption of nearly 300 flights and left tens of thousands of travellers stranded in the Southeast Asian hub.
Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is the main gateway for travellers to the Philippines, serving the capital Manila and the surrounding region.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista apologized for the inconvenience to passengers. He said, the outdated existing facility should be upgraded immediately and a backup system was also needed.
The Airport Authority scrambled to resume full services on Monday. It said the airport was handling a maximum of 15 flights per hour on Monday morning, down from the usual 20. Several of the airport’s four terminals were crowded, with long queues of people trying to re-book flights while other weary passengers slept on chairs or on the floor.