DGCA headquarters to have Control Room for tackling issues of suspension of flights

Calicut airport from 16th August 2018 have been monitored through integrated operational control Centre (IOCC) of the airlines.

A Control Room has been set up at DGCA Hqrs., New Delhi, which is being manned 24X7 since 15th August 2018 night to address issues due to the suspension of flight operations to /from Cochin airports. Scheduled flights of the domestic airlines to/from Trivandrum, Calicut airport from 16th August 2018 have been monitored through integrated operational control Centre (IOCC) of the airlines.

The control room received the following queries from the public:

1. Re-scheduling status of flights, which was addressed after referring to the revised schedule submitted by the airlines for 16th August 2018.
2. High fare especially on Delhi –Trivandrum sector. Concerned airlines were advised to keep a check on the fare and cap the maximum fare on Delhi-Trivandrum sector to INR 10,000/-. Airlines have also been advised to check the fares on other flights going to Trivandrum and Calicut.

The control room has spoken to Cochin airport for the latest update on Cochin weather. It has been informed that water level inside the airport continues to rise and heavy rain is predicted till Saturday i.e. 18 August 2018.

Due to heavy rains in Kerala, operations to/from Cochin airport have been suspended from 15-18 Aug 2018 on account of water rising in the operational area. However, Trivandrum and Calicut airports are available for scheduled operations. For international operations, both immigration and customs facilities are available 24x7 at these airports. Trivandrum airport can also accommodate wide-body aircraft.

In view of the above and to cater for the stranded passengers, scheduled domestic airlines have been advised to reschedule their flights to/from Cochin to Trivandrum Calicut airports till such time the situation at Cochin airport returns to normal. Scheduled domestic airlines have also been advised to operate relief flights to Trivandrum/Calicut for passengers of diverted flights, who have landed at Bangalore, Coimbatore, and Chennai on 15 Aug 2018 morning instead of Cochin.