By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff reporter
LAOAG CITY—Typhoon Mangkhut [Ompong] blew off the Laoag International Airport (LIA) administration building’s roof forcing airport personnel to relocate temporarily.
Operations, however, resumed on September 24, 2018 after the sole airline servicing the Manila-Laoag-Manila route cancelled flights starting September 15, 2018.
Ronald Estabillo, civil aviation area 1 manager said Mangkhut is the strongest typhoon so far that caused severe damage at the airport.
Before the expected the typhoon’s landfall at dawn of September 15, 2018, the airline also cancelled the evening Manila-Laoag-Manila flight on September 14, 2018.
The airport was closed from September 15 at 8:00 a.m. until September 16 at 4:00 p.m.
Earlier this year, the Laoag airport has been identified as one of the safest and secured international airport in the country with its new aerodrome certificate.
The Laoag airport caters to domestic flights daily.
