Air Transport

Landings and takeoffs at the Philippines' Caticlan airport have been restricted pending the lengthening of its runway and the flattening of a hill that obstructs one of is approaches.

Aircraft can only use runway 06 for landing and runway 24 for taking off, says the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

The move comes after a Xian Aircraft MA60 turboprop operated by Zest Airways overshot the runway while trying to land on runway 24. Nobody was hurt in the accident.

Jose Saplan, chief of the aircraft accidents investigations board at the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, tells ATI there are plans to lengthen the runway by 100m and flatten the mountain obstructing runway 24.

He says the landing and takeoff restrictions will remain until the expansion project is complete.

The project has been tendered, but negotiations are still necessary with land owners who may be affected by the plan, he adds.

Caticlan airport sits across a narrow strait of water from the resort island of Boracay.