AAI suspends operations of big planes at Calicut airport for 6 months

NEW DELHI: Airports Authority of India today announced suspension of operations of bigger aircraft from Calicut for six months starting May 1 in the wake of proposed runway re-carpeting work from September, citing safety considerations.

In the interest of safety, the AAI has decided to suspend operations of bigger aircraft such as B-777, B-747 and A-330-200 at Calicut airport for a period of six months, starting May 1, an official release said today.

However, airlines can operate aircraft such as B-757, B-767, B-737, A-310, A-320 etc or similar aircraft.

The move would affect around 26 international flights of Saudi Airlines, Emirates and Air India out of the total 41 overseas services per week, arriving and departing from the Calicut airport, the release said.

Calicut airport operates a total of 162 flights per week with 121 of them being to various domestic destinations.

The situation will be reviewed after assessing the progress of re-carpeting work of the runway and the decision taken by the DGCA in this regard, AAI said.

The situation will be reviewed after assessing the progress of re-carpeting work of the runway and the decision taken by the aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation, an official release said today, by the DGCA in this regard.

Airport authorities would undertake the runway re-carpeting work for safety reasons arising out of its precarious surface condition after the last monsoon, it said, adding, the work will be undertaken post-monsoon this year.

AAI has also requested the Kerala Government to provide 248 acres of land for runway extension and related works, the release said.