Chennai Airport Allows Day-time Flights from 6 am Today

When contacted, an AAI spokesperson said the situation at the airport was being constantly monitored and a decision on extending the closure period has not been taken yet.

“The closure of the Chennai Airport has been further extended till 1100 hours of December 8, 2015”, Air India said mentioning it in a statement a statement about its flights to Hyderabad and Port Blair from Chennai. The deluge destroyed crucial road and rail links, shutdown the airport, snapped power and telecom lines and left lakhs of people stranded.

Following inspection of runway and other areas, the aerodrome was declared available for limited day time operations, under visual meteorological conditions for technical ferry and relief flight from Chennai airport, and subsequently upgrade to all weather operations as and when facilities are restored, an AAI statement had said.

Thirty-two airplanes of global and domestic airlines are seated at the airport.

However, intermittent rains and an overcast sky kept the people on their tenterhooks while waters receded in a number of areas.

“But airlines need to have a heart and not overcharge people in distress”, said Rajji Rai, former president of the Travel Agents’ Association of India.

“Limited commercial flight operations from Rajali naval air station in Arakkonam started on Friday”.

“Air India has informed us that it will operate a chartered flight to Port Blair and one flight to and fro Chennai today”, sources told PTI this morning.