Thousands of travellers were stranded at Philippine airports on Sunday after a “loss of communication” at the country’s busiest hub in Manila forced hundreds of flights to be cancelled, delayed or diverted.

Aviation authorities detected in the morning a “technical issue” involving the air traffic management centre at Manila’s domestic and international airport.

It came as many people began returning to the capital for work and school after the Christmas and New Year break.

There were chaotic scenes at check-in counters across the country as thousands of people tried to re-book tickets or find when their flight might take off.

Others who had boarded their aircraft before the glitch was announced waited for hours and then were deplaned.

Airport officials did not specify the cause of the problem, but budget carrier Cebu Pacific said in an advisory it was due to a “power outage and loss of communication.”

Airport authorities said the air traffic management system was partially restored by 4:00 pm (0800 GMT) and flights were beginning to take off and land in Manila.(AFP)