300 passengers of Continental Airlines stranded at NAIA 1

At least 300 Guam-bound passengers have been stranded in Manila for nearly two days due to a defective aircraft of Continental Airlines, QTV’s Balitanghali reported Wednesday. The passengers of Continental Airlines Flight 934 were supposed to leave the country on January 3 at 11 p.m., but were not allowed to board the aircraft due to a technical problem. They waited until 4 a.m. of January 4 at the boarding gate 5 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 for their departure while the aircraft was being repaired. But since the repair would take time, the passengers were brought to a hotel where they were told to wait for further instructions. The television report said the passengers then complained that the airline management did not provide for their food during their stay in the hotel. They complained getting only water, soup and a corned beef sandwich. The passengers were also not given any update on their flight except receiving an information early morning of January 5 asking them to return to NAIA Terminal 1 at 1 a.m. for their 3:30 a.m. departure. However, upon arriving at NAIA, the passengers learned that the aircraft was still not working. As of posting time, the passengers were still waiting for their departure.

Demelza Wenceslao, one of the passengers, said it was her third time to return to NAIA for her flight. Marlita Carpo, for her part, expressed disappointment over the supposed abandonment of the Continental Airlines to its passengers. She said not one Continental Airlines personnel had faced them to explain the situation. Engineer Russel Villoria, another passenger, said he was able to talk with the flight officer of Continental Airlines and the latter admitted that the repair on the aircraft has not yet been completed. Villoria and other passengers feared that the aircraft is no longer fit for flying and should be replaced. QTV’s Balitanghali reported that Manila International Airport general manager Angel Honrado called up Maxima Cabantog, Continental Airlines’ country manager, who is in Boston. She told Honrado that since the airline is not Philippine-based, it has no spare aircraft to use. Cabantog was also quoted as saying that the spare parts for the defective aircraft had arrived Tuesday night and they expect to finish the repair and resume with the flight within the day. She also promised that they will be able to accommodate all the stranded passengers. — with Amita Legaspi/RSJ, GMANews.TV