Runway at Calicut Airport to be Re-Carpeted; Big Aircraft Operations to be Suspended for Six Months from 1.05.2015

It has been decided to re-carpet and strengthen the runway at the Calicut Airport for safety reasons arising out of its precarious surface condition after the last monsoon. The work will be undertaken after this year’s monsoon season in September 2015. Meanwhile, in the interest of safety, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has decided to suspend operations of bigger aircrafts such as B-777, B-747 and A-330-200 at Calicut airport for a period of six months with effect from 1.5.2015. The situation will be reviewed after assessing the progress of re-carpeting work of the runway and the decision communicated by the DGCA in this regard.

Out of 162 flights per week (41 domestic + 121 international), only 26 flights per week of Saudia Airlines, Emirates and Air India will be affected due to suspension of operations of the above category aircraft at the Calicut Airport. However, airlines can operate aircraft such as B-757, B-767, B -737, A-310, A-320 etc or similar aircraft.

The AAI has also requested the Government of Kerala to provide 248 acres of land for extension of Runway including Runway End Safety Area and Basic Strip of 150 metre on either side of the Runway centerline.