Pagadian Airport to resume operation on May 10

PAGADIAN CITY—The airport in this capital city of Zamboanga del Sur will resume flights here ahead of its scheduled reopening, Mayor Samuel Co announced on Friday.

He said the contractor’s undisturbed work on the runway allowed their workers to finish the project earlier than expected.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) closed the airport last April 15 to allow a monthlong repair on the runway pavement that had deteriorated from weather conditions and aircraft traffic loads.

Co said the city government has already informed the Philippine Airlines and the Cebu Pacific Air, the two airlines maintaining flights at the Pagadian Aiport, about the early resumption of the airport’s operation.

Although there were still parts of the runway, mainly minor cracks that needed repairs, the continuing work will not hinder the operation, the mayor said.

Co said Caap would be sending an inspector to go over the finished repair works and ensure overall safety before the agency could issue the Notice to Airmen, which is needed for the airport to officially resume operation.

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The Pagadian Airport accommodates five flights daily: three for the Manila-Pagadian-Manila flights and two for the Cebu-Pagadian-Cebu flights operated by the two airlines.

The Caap earlier said the repair was critical to preserve the runway pavement’s optimal function and ensure safety during flight operation.

Classified by Caap as principal airport class 1 or a major domestic airport, the Pagadian Airport serves not only passengers from the provincial capital but also from the entire Zamboanga del Sur and the neighboring province of Zamboanga Sibugay. —LEAH AGONOY INQ