NO MAJOR DISRUPTIONS ON THURSDAY

Although the runways of CSMIA were shut for six hours, passengers did not face much inconvenience

MUMBAI: Despite Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA)’S runways being shut down for six hours, there were no major disruptions on the first day of the maintenance work that will continue till March 30. Passengers did not face any major inconvenience since the airlines and airport authorities were prepared for the shutdown, said officials. The airport’s two runways will be shut on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, between 11am to 5pm, for re-carpeting and overlay work, till March 30.

Although there were 230 fewer flights at the airport, CSMIA functioned normally on Thursday. A senior Air India official, who did not want to be named, said the shutdown was planned and the schedule was redrawn. “This is the reason why the least number of flights was affected and there was no backlog.”

Airlines and other stakeholders were issued a notice in October 2018 and airlines reduced the number of flights operating out of the airport accordingly. CSMIA has two cross runways. The airport rearranged flight CLOSURE OF RUNWAY When: Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday between 11am to 5pm till March 30

Why: For re-carpeting and overlay work of the runway intersection

ON THURSDAY

flights

schedules, allowing more operations than normal before the shutdown. A senior airport official said, “Between 10.30am to 11.05am, the airport handled 32 flight operations,including departures of long haul flights. This is commendable as CSMIA handles around 48 flight movements in an hour.”

According to flightradar24, an internet-based service, the average delay of flights at CSMIA was around 15 minutes on early Thursday evening.

An air traffic control (ATC) official said air traffic congestion was responsible for this. “The flights coming in from the west were coming in earlier than their scheduled time due to strong tailwinds,” he said.

However, there is some concern that the runways being shut down three days a week may impact air travel in the near future. “Airfares have seen an average spike of 23% on key routes to and from Mumbai,” said Aloke Bajpai, CEO of the travel booking site, Ixigo. “Around 33% of all flights from Mumbai airport were delayed today and we expect a further increase in cancellations and delays over the next month.”