Philippine Airlines Cancels Most Domestic, Some Asian Flights because of Typhoon Xangsane / Milenyo

Philippine Airlines today canceled more than half of its domestic flights as well as a number of services to nearby Asian points as Typhoon Xangsane (local name: "Milenyo") headed straight for the capital, home to the flag carrier's main hub at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila.

As of press time, PAL had canceled 38 round-trip flights to 13 domestic destinations - 53% of its scheduled 72 domestic services today.

Eight flights to and from four Asian points - Hong Kong, Bangkok, Shanghai and Busan - were called off, while services to Nagoya, Osaka (Kansai) and Tokyo (Narita) were reset to the following day (September 29).

A handful of PAL flights scheduled to return to Manila from various domestic and regional points today were put on hold as authorities monitored the weather situation. Affected were the return services from Tokyo, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, Beijing, Osaka, Fukuoka and Taipei.

PAL also warned of possible delays to its trans-Pacific flights to Vancouver/Las Vegas and Honolulu scheduled to depart later this afternoon.

However, the flights to Los Angeles and San Francisco, both listed for late evening departures, are taking off as scheduled.

Meanwhile, three PAL aircraft were evacuated from Manila to the safety of southern airports in Cebu, Kalibo and Butuan.

Typhoon Xangsane, packing winds of 130 kilometers per hour near the center, was expected to pass just north of Manila early this afternoon.

Passengers are advised to contact PAL Reservations in Manila on telephone numbers 855-8888 and 855-1000 for the latest flight information.

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