Congestion at Fukuoka Airport in Japan disrupted the travel plans of Cebu Pacific passengers from Manila on Sunday, causing delays that extended their journey to over 24 hours.
Cebu Pacific flight 5J 922, with 186 passengers onboard, left Manila on Sunday afternoon and was expected to land in Fukuoka a few hours later.
Airline ensures safety
But an unexpected runway issue in Fukuoka Airport forced the flight to divert to Kitakyushu Airport some 60 kilometers away for refuelling, according to a Cebu Pacific spokesperson.
After this, Cebu Pacific attempted to return to Fukuoka but it could not complete the trip before the airport’s 10:00 p.m. curfew, which was imposed to minimize noise for the residential areas surrounding the gateway.
Fukuoka Airport’s strict curfew hours have also forced other carriers to divert to Kitakyushu.
Meal vouchers, hotel stay
Cebu Pacific said the plane was then dispatched to Kansai International Airport in Osaka, where passengers disembarked and were provided meal vouchers every two hours.
The carrier said the return flight, 5J 923, is set to leave Osaka for Fukuoka on 4:05 p.m Japan time and will depart Fukuoka for Manila at 6:20 p.m.
The carrier said affected passengers were also provided hotel accommodation in their final destination in Fukuoka. They were also offered flexible options including rebooking their flight for free, credits to be stored in a travel fund or a full refund.
“We apologize for the inconvenience this situation may have caused. We appeal for understanding as safety is our primary concern,” Cebu Pacific said.
Miguel R. Camus has been a reporter covering various domestic business topics since 2009.
