The Thiruvananthapuram international airport is in the limelight for handling 726 additional rescheduled domestic and international flights, 360 movements of rescue-and-relief flights and helicopters, and 75,000 flyers since August 15 when the flooded the Cochin international airport was closed for air traffic.
The airport authorities also responded positively to a request on August 18 to make available X-ray baggage scanners, other security gadgets, and counters for commencing flights using ATR from Kochi Naval air base.
The stakeholders of the airport, managed by the Airports Authority of India, rose to the occasion and handled the additional flights with ease even as it catered to its 120 scheduled arrivals and departures daily. The lowest of 16 rescheduled flights were handled on August 15 and the highest of 79 on August 27.
Of the 360 movements of rescue-and-relief flights, 176 were flights of defence forces and 184 helicopter movements that played a major role in rescuing the marooned people and taking relief materials to the flood-hit.
Handled well
“Everyone played their part in handling the additional movements and flyers. Handling four jumbo flights from Colombo and West Asia simultaneously during the peak morning hours was a challenge and we managed it,” Airport Director George G. Tharakan told The Hindu.
Work round the clock
The Air Traffic Controllers and the Operations department worked round the clock to accommodate the additional flights.
Additional personnel from the Mangaluru airport were called in to handle the load of the Operations department.
The 36-member team engaged in the Communication, Navigation and Surveillance in the ATC had to put in extra hours and forego their Onam holidays during the past 13 days.
Besides, they had to handle the VVIP aircraft that brought Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Immigration department (BOI ) increased its staff strength to man all the 18 departure immigration counters and 14 arrival immigration counters.
Check-in counters were also increased from 12 to 15 in the domestic terminal on Shanghumughom side as Vistara, GoAir and Air Asia also operated to the capital.
While departments such as Engineering-Civil, Engineering-Electrical, and Customs worked round the clock, the CISF increased the security counters.
Oil companies, Ground Handling Agencies and flight catering units also increased their staff strength and equipment to handle the rush.
Makes revenue too
The airport got ₹2.75 crore as Route Navigation Facility Charges, Terminal Navigation and Landing Charges, and Landing and Parking Charges, Mr. Tharakan said.
The rescue-and-relief flights of defence forces need not pay any charges to AAI.