Flight operations normal in Chennai, Coimbatore

CHENNAI: Flights operations were normal at both the domestic and international airports this morning despite the indefinite "non-cooperation" by the Airports Authority of India Employees Union which began at midnight. Flights to Delhi, Port Blair, Kolkata, Bangalore and Coimbatore left on schedule while in the international sector the Gulf Airways' Bahrain-bound flight took off at 5.30 am and British Airways' Chennai-London flight at 4 am, airport sources said.

Similarly, international arrivals were also handled without any trouble. Airport Director Dinesh Kumar, who stayed back at the airport last night, said the stir would not affect the operations at the airport.

While CISF personnel manned the terminals, city policemen were present in large numbers outside the airport. Air Force personnel had been deployed to man the fire fighting operations, the sources said. A Coimbatore report said flight operations there was normal. Two early morning private airlines, between 5.30 am and 6.15 am arrived on time and the passengers had no difficulty in collecting the baggages, it said quoting official sources.

Security had been tightened at the airport and arrangements made for smooth functioning of day-to-day work, the sources said.