via CAAI
updated 10/12/2010
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Cambodian aviation authorites issued a vague apology Tuesday for confusion over flight disruptions, saying weather conditions did not force the closure of its two international airports as stated a day earlier.
"No flight disruption or weather-related delays (have) occurred. Any information stating differently is groundless," the civil aviation authority and the airports' operator said in a joint statement.
On Monday, a high-ranking civil aviation official, Him Sarun, announced that all flights were suspended at the airports in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap from 10 a.m. onward due to heavy rain and strong winds. He said pilots could not see the runways and the closures were enforced "for the sake of travelers' safety."
However, the airports never shut down Monday and flights took off and arrived mostly as scheduled.
It is unclear what prompted the confusion.
"The international airports in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap (were) operating as usual yesterday despite challenging weather conditions," the statement said.
It added that Cambodia's international airports are equipped with navigation and landing aid systems that comply with international standards and allow flights to operate safely in adverse weather conditions.
All-day rain flooded parts of capital Phnom Penh on Monday with up to 3.3 feet of water (1 meter).
The Ministry of Water Resource and Meteorology says the poor weather conditions started Sunday and would last until at least Wednesday.
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