KOLKATA: The primary runway at Kolkata airport was back in use after a month from Sunday morning, following construction of a rapid exit taxiway adjoining the main runway, which had forced airlines to operate only along secondary runway since March 4. “The main runway was handed over for aircraft movement at 10am. It took an hour to finish the requisite inspection and normal movements began from 11am. At 11.30am, the first flight took off from the main runway to Jaipur. Two minutes later the first flight landed from Bengaluru,” said C Pattabhi, Kolkata airport director.
The per hour handling capacity immediately increased to 35 on Sunday against the 17-22 flight movements over the last five weeks. The operations began along secondary runway but shifted to primary from 11am onwards. “We had been spacing out our flights through the day and in the peak hours, there were around 22-24 flight movements that we somehow managed. Now we can get back to our old schedule,” said an airline official.
The airport currently has around 370 movements of domestic flights per day and a daily operation of around 425 odd flights, including international, cargo and chartered flights. “With the primary runway back in use, we are ready to handle 500 domestic flights,” said Pattabhi.
Rahul Wadhwa, chairperson of Airlines Operators Committee, said, “We have been telling authorities on the need to deploy more CISF personnel. The Forex counters and international SIM card outlets also need to reopen.”
