A ‘technical glitch’ in the air traffic management system at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Monday resulted in delays and cancellations of numerous flights, affecting around 9,240 passengers. According to the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), 48 flights, including 31 domestic and 17 international, were disrupted by the issue.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) initially reported the malfunction in the airport’s navigation system at 1:05 PM, although MIAA Acting General Manager Eric Jose Ines noted that the problem started earlier at 11:27 AM. To ensure safety during this period, CAAP implemented longer separations between departing flights. The glitch was resolved by 2:02 PM, allowing operations to gradually return to normal.
Despite the resolution, flight schedules continued to be affected. Cebu Pacific (CEB) indicated that the Air Traffic Management Control resumed full operations by 2:21 PM, but some disruptions persisted as airlines worked to normalize their operations. CEB also announced on X that several of their flights were canceled due to the disruption at NAIA.
The affected Cebu Pacific flights included:
5J 389/390: Manila – Cagayan De Oro – Manila
5J 455/456: Manila – Iloilo – Manila
5J 487/488: Manila – Bacolod – Manila
5J 557/558: Manila – Cebu – Manila
5J 955/956: Manila – Davao – Manila
Passengers impacted by these cancellations have the option to rebook their flights without a fare difference for travel within 30 days, get a full refund, or store the value of their tickets in a virtual CEB wallet. Philippine Airlines also announced coordination with aviation authorities to adjust their flight schedules and obtain necessary clearances to alleviate the situation.