India residents stand on the shore as Periyar river flooded following monsoon rains at Aluva, in the Indian state of Kerala, on August 16, 2018. The death toll from floods in India's tourist hotspot of Kerala increased to 77 on August 16, as torrential ra
Update (Aug 16, 4:30pm): Kochi Airport closed till 2pm on August 26
Operations at Kochi Airport have been suspended till 2pm of August 26. One of the busiest airports of the country, it handles 1460 flights a week.
We will update with more information as and when we get details from the airlines.
UPDATE (August 16): Indigo waives cancellation and rescheduling fees
"Due to the ongoing flood situation in Kochi, we're offering a cancellation/rescheduling fee waiver to all passengers scheduled to travel on 16th, 17th and 18th Aug, 2018. Please visit https://bit.ly/2ndGnZ8 We hope everything gets normal soon," the airline posted on their social media page.
Update (Aug 15): Qatar Airways India helpline number and Air India Express official's quote added
Doha: Due to unprecedented heavy rain Kochi airport in Kerala, India has suspended its operation for four days. Kochi-Doha-Kochi flights operated by various airlines will be affected due to the flooding of the runway at the airport. Currently four airlines – Qatar Airways, Jet Airways, Air India Express and Indigo – operates flights to Kochi daily from Doha.
“Kochi Airport operations is temporarily suspended till Saturday 18, 2pm since the inflow of water is still on a raising trend. The same is due to heavy inflow of water consequent to opening of dams. This is done to minimize the inconvenience to passengers and as a precautionary measure to ensure operational safety,” Cochin International Airport said in a statement.
Many Indian expats from Kerala, who had planned their holidays during Eid and Onam, will be left stranded due to the situation. All airlines are trying to accommodate the affected passenger in flights to Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode, the two other airports in Kerala.
Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways has suspended all their flights to Kochi till August 18. The airline said in a statement that passengers who have booked will be provided alternative arrangents.
“We kindly advise passengers that airport operations at Cochin Airport have been suspended until 18 August due to extreme flooding in the area. As a result, Qatar Airways has suspended all flights to Cochin Airport until 18 August 2018.
“We would like to assure all customers that every effort is being made to assist affected passengers with alternative arrangements, and we would like to thank them for their patience and understanding.
“Passengers are advised to call Qatar Airways’ 24-hour call centre on +974 4023 0000 or +91 79 3061 6000 for further assistance,” Qatar Airways said in statement.
Jet Airways
Jet Airways have cancelled their Kochi-Doha-Kochi flight for today (August 15) and passengers are given an option to shift their booking to alternative airports served by the airline from Doha.
“We have only cancelled today’s flight and will shift the passengers as per availability to other closer airports free of cost. Already we have shifted 50 percent of the passengers. For tomorrow, we will take a call later depending on the situation,” Anshad Ibrahim, Country Manager, Jet Airways, told The Peninsula.
Passengers who have booked on Jet Airways to Kochi can call 44072222 for further details.
Air India Express
All Air India Express flights from Cochin will operate from Thiruvananthapuram, a spokesman of the Indian national carrier said.
A Doha-based official told The Peninsula in an email that "due to closure of Cochin airport, IX 475/476 COK/DOH/COK of 15/16/17th August will be operating as TRV/DOH/TRV on same schedule timing."
Indigo
According to the Indigo airlines website the Doha-Kochi and Kochi-Doha flights on August 15 and 16 stand cancelled. "All flights to/fro Kochi, stand cancelled till Aug 16, 2018 due to runway unavailability owing to flood situation," the airline replied to query on their twitter account.
“Operations were suspended after water reached the runaway in the early hours of Wednesday. Most of the incoming flights are diverted to Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikkode airports,” CIAL director ACK Nair told The Hindustan Times newspaper.
Heavy rains again hit Kerala on Wednesday killing four more people and taking the death toll to 43 since August 8.
It has been raining heavily in several parts of the state since Tuesday evening. The authorities were forced to open 33 dams across Kerala.
The Indian weather bureau has forecast more rains till Saturday.
“Workmen are now engaged in breaking down a portion of the compound wall to let out rising water even as three heavy duty motors are being used to pump out water. The airport operations area, including the runways, are under three to four feet water. The western compound wall has prevented free outflow of water and that is being broken down partially,” The Hindu newspaper reported.
