Flights may be rejigged as Goa airport to undergo repairs

Panaji, April 24 (IANS) If you are planning to fly down to Goa for a holiday this weekend, just re-check your flight plan as the state's only landing strip at Dabolim will be undergoing pre-monsoon maintenance work for three days, an official said Wednesday.

"The Dabolim airfield will be closed for all civil and military flying between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. from April 27 (Saturday) to April 30 (Monday) as mutually agreed between the Indian Navy, Airports Authority of India and various scheduled and charter operators," said a spokesperson for the Indian Navy, which operates the Goa airport.

"The flights are being rescheduled and necessary arrangements have been made to minimise inconvenience to passengers. The planned repair would go a long way towards ensuring safe and efficient operations especially during the monsoon," the spokesperson added.

The Goa airport handles over 27,000 flight movements every year including charter flights during the holiday season. In 2011, the Goa airport handled 3.52 million passengers, a majority of which were tourists.