Chennai airport to open today

The Chennai airport will resume day-time operations from Saturday for relief and technical ferry flights, the civil aviation ministry has said.

However, the ministry has not indicated when regular passenger flights to Chennai will begin. As of Friday evening, the basement of the terminal building remained under water.

The decision to open the airport for relief and technical flights was taken following an airport inspection on Friday.

By Friday evening, water had receded from the runways and taxiways. Debris was removed from the operational area and repair work on the runways and taxiways was carried out. The serviceability status of airport systems including communication and navigation aids, information technology systems and meteorological equipment is under evaluation, the ministry said.
 

It added the airport would be open for all-weather as and when the necessary facilities are restored.