Partial Restoration of Flight Operations in Kerala Amid Regional Airspace Disruptions

Strategic Insights -

Flight operations between Kerala and the Middle East slowly resumed on Tuesday at Thiruvananthapuram and Cochin International Airports after regional airspace was reopened, but the disruptions continued to impact passengers, with numerous flights experiencing delays and cancellations. Despite airlines resuming services, the last-minute rush for tickets led to a significant surge in airfares, reaching up to Rs 80,000 for Gulf routes. Authorities have urged passengers to verify their flight status with the airlines before heading to the airport.

Key Takeaways:

  • Flight operations at Thiruvananthapuram airport were partially restored on Tuesday, but several flights scheduled for Monday night and Tuesday morning were rescheduled or cancelled.
  • Key Gulf destinations like Muscat, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Dammam, Dubai, Doha, and Kuwait saw flight cancellations on Tuesday.
  • Emirates, Etihad, and Air Arabia resumed services once airspace restrictions eased, but airfares skyrocketed to Rs 40,000-Rs 80,000 for Gulf routes.
  • Terminal 2 at Thiruvananthapuram airport was equipped with additional seating and airline counters, and extra staff were deployed to manage the disruption.
  • Normal flight schedules are expected to resume at Kochi airport within a couple of days, with Air India Express to Bahrain scheduled to depart early Wednesday morning.
  • Flights cancelled from Kochi on Tuesday included services to Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, Muscat, Bahrain, and Dammam, while delays affected Kuwait and Bahrain services.
  • Calicut International Airport's normal operations have not yet resumed, with 14 departing flights and 14 incoming flights cancelled on Tuesday.

Statistics:

  • Airfares soared to Rs 40,000-Rs 80,000 for Gulf routes after the last-minute rush for tickets.
  • Terminal 2 at Thiruvananthapuram airport was equipped with additional seating and airline counters to manage the disruption.
  • Air India Express to Bahrain is scheduled to depart early Wednesday morning.
  • 14 departing flights from Karipur to Gulf destinations were cancelled on Tuesday.
  • 14 incoming flights were cancelled on Tuesday, including eight by Air India Express, three by IndiGo, two by SpiceJet, and one by Qatar Airways.

Sources:

  • "Thiruvananthapuram and Cochin airports see partial restoration of international flight operations" (Times News Network).