UAE-bound passengers stuck in Manila after typhoon

UAE-bound passengers from Philippines are stranded at various airports across the country after a severe typhoon has thrown air transport out of gear.

At least 10 people have died and thousands have been evacuated after Typhoon Rammasun made landfall on Tuesday.

'You really can't do anything about this situation,' said Jane, an assistant manager working in Dubai.

Most flights have been delayed by four to eight hours, and flights headed to Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and Brunei have been affected the most.

Ninoy Aquino International Airport, where this KhaleejTimes.com journalist is stranded, is running on generator power, which may not last long if the storm doesn't subside soon enough.

What frustrated stranded passengers the most was that there was no communication by the airport or the airlines about the status of flights, leading to utter chaos.

'It's frustrating that some airlines didn't even give any prompt updates or news bulletins if their flights are cancelled or not,' Jane added.

Arnel, a seafarer bound to a port in Fujairah, expressed utter difficulty in contacting his airline.

'I was forced to call up my shipping agency for updates on whether I will push through or not, but I was advised to go straight to the airport. It's absolute hassle. I don't know whether our ship will wait for me or not,' he said.

'I have never seen so many stranded passengers. I don't know if all of us can fit in this airport's waiting area,' Romulo, an engineer travelling to Dubai, said.

dennis@khaleejtimes.com