Flight movement, passenger traffic go up

Coimbatore: The city airport has recorded an 11.3% increase in flight movement in October, compared to September.
As per the data available with the Airport Authority of India (AAI) officials, the city had handled 1,112 flights in October, against 999 flights in September. However, only 56 international flights were operated last month, compared to 178 in the comparable period in 2019, when operations were normal. The dip in the international flight has affected the international passenger traffic as well.
The airport has, however, recorded a 15% increase in passenger traffic last month, when the airport handled 1, 25, 053 domestic passengers and 6,824 international passengers, compared to September.
“Both the passenger traffic and flight movement are on the rise every month. It shows people are confident of the safety protocols taken by the AAI. Moreover, decrease in Covid-19 infection and increase in the vaccinated population have further bolstered the confidence of fliers,” an airport official said.
Flight movements were disrupted during the peak of second Covid-19 wave from May. While the airport had resumed flight operations in July, it was only after August that the airport began to record a good passenger traffic.
Tour operators, meanwhile, said most of the people were flying out of the city for business and leisure activities. “Most of the flights are witnessing packed movement, thanks to the government’s decision to allow flights to operate with 100% occupancy from October 18. The airport will record more fliers this month, as we have got a few more connections in the winter schedule.”