A week after it suspended operations following the flash floods that ravaged the State, Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) has decided to extend the date of resuming operations by three more days to August 29.
An official statement issued by the airport company on Wednesday said a decision to this effect was taken during a meeting to review the damage control activities at Kochi airport during the day. During the meeting, most of the stake-holders, including airlines and ground handling agencies, expressed their concern over mobilising manpower.
‘‘It was informed that 90% of their staff got affected with the flood and are out of station. Nearby hotels, restaurants and eateries still remain close. As central Kerala is yet to recover from post flood trauma, it is a daunting task to arrange local commutation, logistics of catering items, which will cause a cascading effect on the passengers. In view of these apprehensions, CIAL decided to extend the date of resuming operations for three more days. We will start all operations by 2 p.m on August 29,’’ it said.
With flood waters completely drained off its runway, taxiway and parking bays, the airport company has already restored about 750 out of the 800-odd runway lights and about 60% of the runway, besides cleaning up a major portion of the passenger terminals.
CIAL has sustained a loss of around ₹220 crore from damage to the runway and equipment caused by the floods. The airport has suspended aircraft operations since August 15 and the airport company was forced to demolish a portion of its boundary wall to let out the flood water.
