Gulf flights to Kerala hit by heavy rains
KOCHI, August 10, 2019
Authorities in India are taking steps to ease difficulties faced by travellers from the Gulf region to Kerala as a result of floods caused by heavy rains across the state especially in the Kochi region, reported Emirati news agency Wam.
Two dozen people are reported to have been killed across Kerala from the floods and nine districts in the state are under "red alert" to prevent further loss of lives and ensure essential services, stated the report citing local media.
Outside India, the most visible effects of the monsoon flooding in Kerala has been on the state’s connectivity with the Gulf. Cochin International Airport, chas been shut until Sunday afternoon.
Almost the entire air traffic by non-Indian carriers to Cochin airport are from the Gulf, said the report.
The Civil Aviation Ministry in New Delhi today directed incoming aircraft bound for Cochin to fly to two other Kerala airports: Trivandrum and Calicut.
The flights designated to take off from Cochin airport will also lift passengers from Trivandrum and Calicut instead.
Cochin International Airport Limited announced that Oman Air flights in the next three days will operate from Trivandrum instead of Cochin. Kuwait Airways flights on two days have been cancelled as did Gulf Air.
Cochin Airport said Fly Dubai and Air India flights have been shifted to Trivandrum.
Passengers travelling by some Emirates flights have been rebooked from Trivandrum. Air Asia flights for two days have been cancelled, stated the report.
Most airlines have waived charges for changing travel dates or for cancelling journeys, it added.
