Be at NAIA 3 to 4 hours before flight, air travelers told

Air passengers who are planning to leave Metro Manila on the scheduled holidays during the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit have been advised by the ASEAN Committee on Security, Peace and Order, Emergency Preparedness and Response (CSPOEPR) to show up early for their flights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Eric Apolonio, spokesperson of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), advised air travelers to arrive at least three to four hours earlier than their scheduled flights, instead of the usual one to two hours.

“We highly encourage the general public to adjust their travel time considering that there are lock down areas in some parts of Metro Manila,” Apolinario said. CAAP is part of ASEAN-CSPOEPR, which was headed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte earlier declared November 13 to 15 as holidays with the Philippines' hosting of world leaders for the ASEAN Summit.

In a public advisory, the ASEAN-CSPOEPR said that the NAIA Runway 12 will be designated as a "No Landing Zone" beginning Sunday (November 12) to Wednesday(November 15), from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The ASEAN committee said that during this period, only departures will be allowed on the said runway, while Runway 31 will be designated as a "No TakeOff Zone."

Apolonio also said that allotting more time allowance for the scheduled flight would help passengers avoid any inconvenience brought about by the heavy traffic on major roads leading to NAIA.