MIAA explains NAIA power interruptions

MANILA, Philippines — The power interruptions at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on March 27 were caused by the tripping of the main circuit breaker, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said yesterday.

Two separate incidents of power interruptions were reported at the south wing of NAIA Terminal 2, one at 10:39 a.m. and another at 12:12 p.m., according to MIAA general manager Eric Ines.

The main cause of the power interruptions was the sudden tripping of the main circuit breaker of Substation 1, which was not able to compensate for the power surge and extremely high temperatures of that day.

Generators were immediately activated, giving priority to all basic services such as check-in counters, baggage handling system and passenger boarding bridges to ensure that flight operations proceeded, Ines said.

Only the air-conditioning system was not provided power so as to not compromise essential systems and to prevent total loss of power, he added.

Power was successfully restored at Terminal 2 at 1:31 p.m.

Ines recommended an urgent procurement of another generator set for Terminal 2. He also suggested installing window tints at the pre-departure areas to mitigate the warm temperatures felt by passengers.

He also recommended a power redundancy project at MIAA to provide three sources of power.