Domestic flight operations in Chennai to be normal in 24-48 hrs

Domestic flight operations in Chennai are expected to be normal in the next 24 to 48 hours. The airport handled three flights today till afternoon after runway and instrument landing system were declared safe on Sunday. 

However, DGCA has given permission to open the airport only from 6 am to 5.41 pm on Sunday as trial though night landing can be permitted. Flights landed using visual and Instrument guided landing. 

Airport director Deepak Shastri told reporters that “night operations will not be there on Sunday. More inspections will be done to certify the airport fit for night operation.”

An Air India flight to Port Blair took off with 150 passengers at 10.50 am.

The decision to start operations was taken after runway and Instrument Landing System were declared safe and an Air India's proving flight landed at 2,000metre visibility in the morning. 

The aircraft without passengers was operated to certify that the airport is fit for use. 

“We are yet to take a decision to allow international flights. The airlines are consulting us. As of now, the airport is open for flights. Air India has started to operate while Jet Airways have expressed interest to start services.   Domestic arrivals will be handled at the international arrival because the building is yet to be salvaged fully,” he added. 

On Sunday, Air India operated a flight to Hyderabad, Delhi and Jet Airways operated a flight between Bengaluru and Chennai. “The schedule of other airlines are awaited,” he added. 

DGCA and union ministry of civil aviation officials are expected to inspect the airport on Monday. 

Since Decwmber 1, the airport had to be shutdown after runway and taxiways were flooded. Radar and instrument landing system were damaged because of waterlogging.

Incidentally, about 2,000 people were evacuated in the past three days. State government gave buses to transport people to Tambaram from where they were airlifted to Arakonam, where a temporary airbase was set up.