ILOILO CITY — A pre-dawn Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight bound for Iloilo was forced to return to Manila early Wednesday after the Iloilo International Airport runway was temporarily closed for rehabilitation — part of a sweeping Php707-million expansion and modernization project now underway.

The flight, which took off around 4:05 a.m., was about 25 minutes airborne when the pilot announced a diversion back to Manila following notice that Iloilo’s control tower and runway were under scheduled maintenance.

While some passengers feared a possible technical issue, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) clarified that the diversion was planned and tied to ongoing upgrades meant to future-proof the airport.

“This was a scheduled closure connected to the rehabilitation works on the runway. Aviation safety remains our top priority,” said CAAP-Iloilo Terminal Supervisor Art Pareño in an interview with Iloilo Metropolitan Times.

Pareño added that a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) had been issued beforehand to alert carriers of the brief closure. He assured that as of 8:00 a.m., normal operations had resumed.

The temporary closure is part of CAAP’s Php707-million airport expansion and rehabilitation initiative aimed at accommodating rising passenger volumes and larger aircraft. According to CAAP Aerodrome Development and Management Service Assistant Director General Valentino Dionela, the project includes the expansion of the passenger terminal building and the full rehabilitation of runway facilities.

“There are many plans in the pipeline to improve the airport’s condition and expand its structure in preparation for more riding passengers,” Dionela said, noting that the terminal often gets congested during flight delays.

The terminal expansion, estimated at Php250 million under the 2026 budget, will add more space for international passengers. Procurement begins this month, with completion expected by the third quarter of 2027.

Upgrades also include the installation of 250 new chairs, 50 pushcarts, four new escalators, and three new elevators — while the existing elevator will be replaced. Three new chillers are also being installed, raising the total to seven.

Meanwhile, the runway’s asphalt overlay will be implemented in two phases: the Php50-million first phase will be completed by December 2025, while the Php457-million second phase will begin construction in December and finish by the third quarter of 2026.