PAL sees traffic build-up during metro-wide ‘quake drill’

Philippine Airlines (Wikimedia Commons)

MANILA — With the metro-wide earthquake drill scheduled on Thursday, flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) on Wednesday advised its passengers to be at the airport early so they won’t miss their flights.

PAL said that the drill, which is scheduled to be done from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., is expected to contribute to traffic build-up in roads going to and from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminals.

“As such, Philippine Airlines is advising its passengers with late morning to early afternoon flights to leave their homes earlier to avoid traffic on roads leading to NAIA Terminals 2 and 3,” PAL said.

The airline company meanwhile asked its passengers with scheduled flights to standby for updates by logging on to www.philippineairlines.com and visiting the PAL Facebook and Twitter accounts.

NAIA personnel have also been conducting their own quake drills the past week.

Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said that the drills consisted of tabletop exercises as well as briefings on the airport’s earthquake emergency plan which covers evacuation procedures and assembly areas per terminal.

MIAA will also be joining the metro-wide drill, which will be implemented at the MIAA Administration Building on Thursday.

Aside from the drill, a public information campaign at the terminals will also be conducted on the same day by means of the distribution of informational materials to passengers.

Immediately after the drill, normal operations at the terminals will continue.