Flight services not to be hit at Kochi airport as runway work begins from Nov 20

Officials at Cochin International Airport say although daytime flights will be suspended for four months, take-offs and landings will take place between 6pm and 10am.
Flight services not to be hit at Kochi airport as runway work begins from Nov 20
Flight services not to be hit at Kochi airport as runway work begins from Nov 20
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The Cochin International Airport (CIAL) will be closed during the day between 10am to 6pm for four months from November 20 until March 28 as work to re-carpet the runway begins. However, airport authorities say that a majority of the flight operations will not be disrupted with take-off and landing taking place between 6pm and 10am.   

According to officials, only five flight services including one international flight will be disrupted owing to the works.  Speaking to TNM, a CIAL official said, “The operations would be shut down from 10am to 6pm, but that would affect the operations of only one international flight to Mali and four domestic flights to Mysuru, Bengaluru, Delhi and Ahmedabad. The operations won’t be affected apart from the five flights as back in November last year we had intimated airlines about the re-carpet work and hence the operators got one summer and one winter season to readjust schedules. It even came as a surprise to us that we could manage like this without affecting the operations.”

CIAL sees over 1600 flights in a week – both arrivals and departures. The airport website intimates passengers of the planned disruption, stating, "CIAL has already intimated the airlines to reschedule the timetable for the period so as to provide the passengers who book in advance with the updated schedule. As the mandatory runway re-carpeting work of the airport is slated in November, Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) has instructed all the operating airlines to re-schedule their day time service for four months from November 20.”

It is mandatory as per the prescribed practices that all airports should re-carpet their runways around once in ten years. This is the second runway re-carpeting at CIAL that commenced operations in 1999. The first work was held in 2009. The work will be done at a cost of Rs 151 crore.

The work includes re-tarring, maintenance and overhauling of the entire stretch of the runaway, taxiway etc. The re-tarred portion has to be made ready for aircraft operation by the time the runway is handed back for operation.

“During the course of the work the Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL) system will be upgraded to CAT III from the existing CAT I which will improve the operational efficiency and aerodrome safety especially during low visibility and adverse weather conditions.

As a part of CAT III lighting system, the spacing of existing runway centerline lights will be reduced from existing 30 meters to 15 meters and runway will be provided touchdown zone lighting and approach side now lighting,” the website says.

The flight operations of the airport had been stopped for several days during the floods in August.

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