If found safe, Air India may consider operating flights from Kochi naval base
Story highlights
Air India is contemplating to operate from Kochi's naval base as the national carrier's subsidiary, Alliance Air, will test the safety aspects of operating ATR-type aircraft from the naval base, news agency PTI reported.
According to reports, Alliance Air will determine if a small aircraft, with a capacity of 70 people, can land in shorter runway span.
"If found safe, Alliance Air plans to mount (operate) more flights to Kochi's defence airbase and also pave the way for other airlines with ATR/turboprops (to operate flights from there)," a spokesperson said.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA) pilots on the Airbus 320 & Boeing 787 in Air India, have committed to fly planes without payment to support Operation Madad & Operation Sahyog in Kerala. #KeralaFloods
— ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2018
Air India is trying to operate from flood-hit Kochi where the airport has been flooded and therefore shut until August 27. In the meanwhile, all flights scheduled to depart from the Kochi airport have been directed to be operated from Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode.
#OperationMadad Air rescue has been carried out at various places of the 3 badly affected districtsThrissur, Ernakulam and Pathanamthitta, in Kerala. Various aircraft including ALH, Sea King, Chetak and MI 17 (of IAF) rescued more than 154 people till now. #KeralaFloods
— ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2018
Unabated rainfall and heavy floods have been pounding Kerala taking the death toll to a whopping 357.
#OperationMadad scaled up for rescue in many parts of Kerala. SNC rescue teams augmented by Gemini boats, divers and other resources from both Eastern and Western Naval Commands of the India Navy. 72 diving teams deployed across multiple locations in Kerala. #KeralaFloods
— ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2018
All 14 districts were put on a Red Alert on Friday while Chief Minister Vijayan on Saturday sounded a Red Alert for 11 districts barring Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Kasaragod.