Chennai airport, where flights were suspended till Sunday in the wake of floods, has been declared fit for operating technical ferry and relief flights but it has not been said from when.
Following inspection of runway and other areas, the aerodrome was declared available for limited day time operations, under visual meteorological conditions for technical ferry and relief flight from Chennai airport, and subsequently upgrade to all weather operations as and when facilities are restored, an AAI statement said.
Earlier, Airports Authority of India (AAI) Chairman R K Srivastava had told PTI, “Flight operations from Chennai airport will resume partially from tomorrow. The flights will operate during the day time.”
The airport would open at 6 AM and flights would operate till day light is there, he said.
The runway has been cleared for operations after inspections by officials and experts, another AAI official said.
On December 2, AAI had announced that the airport would be shut till December 6 after heavy rains caused flooding of the runway and nearby operational areas.
“Chennai Aerodrome has been closed up to 12 noon of the December 6, 2015. The situation is being closely monitored and any further action will be taken subject to review for resumption of services as soon as possible,” the AAI, which runs the airport, had said on December 2.
On an average, Chennai airport handles 320 landings and departures. As many as 20 international airlines operates from Chennai airport apart from most of the domestic carriers.
The AAI, later in a statement, said that at 1730 hours the water has receded in the manoeuvring area at Chennai airport and the Runways and the taxiways are clear of water.
The FODs (Foreign Object Debris) have been removed from the operational area and required repair work on runway and taxiways has been carried out, it said.
Serviceability status of all airport systems, inter alia communication, navigation and surveillance (CNS) equipment, IT systems, Met equipment are under evaluation, the AAI added.
In the meantime, AAI team carried out inspection of the operational area and in consultation with all the stakeholders including all airline operators and regulatory authorities.