After strikes in Pakistan & PoK, Kolkata ATC handles extra load, airport suspends runway repair
Times of India | 8 May 2025
Kolkata airport KOLKATA: Runway repairs scheduled at Kolkata airport on Wednesday were suspended indefinitely as all airports were put on high alert in the wake of India’s air strikes on militant hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) early on Wednesday.Later in the day, a comprehensive security drill simulating an air raid scenario was also conducted at the airport as part of the ongoing efforts to bolster emergency preparedness.The exercise was carried out under the supervision of the airport director, following an official directive, and saw the active participation of key stakeholders, including the CISF, BCAS, Customs, and Immigration authorities. On Wednesday, air traffic controllers in Kolkata also diverted all flights between Europe and South-East Asia via Nagpur and Mumbai to avoid Pakistan airspace. Until Tuesday, these flights travelled via Varanasi and Delhi before entering Pakistan airspace. Though Kolkata airport remained operational, flights to airports near the western border, including Srinagar and Amritsar, were cancelled as these airports were shut on Wednesday. Civil and electrical repairs, including painting of the runway signage, removal of rubber deposits, and checking of runway lights, were scheduled on Wednesday. “A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) was issued announcing the closure of the primary runway for five hours from 11 am to 4 pm on Wednesday. But the NOTAM was withdrawn after a message from the Union home ministry arrived asking all runways to be kept operational,” an official said.Though Kolkata has a secondary runway, the primary runway is longer and is capable of handling all types of aircraft, including military transport planes as well as fighter jets. The length of the primary runway is 3,633 m, while the secondary runway is 2,832 m long. Controllers in Kolkata had a busy day rerouting planes that usually overflew Pakistan via Mumbai and the Arabian Sea to avoid the volatile region. Kolkata flight information region handles around 200-250 overflying aircraft travelling between Europe and South-East Asia.While Pakistan shut its airspace to Indian carriers from 6 pm on April 24, foreign carriers overflew Pakistan until Tuesday morning when NOTAM on an exercise along western India led to flights taking the alternative route. A contingency plan is also ready at the airport, though it has not been put into force yet. This includes making arrangements for the operations team to reside and function from the airport in the event of a contingency.However, an Airport Emergency Operation Plan was activated in coordination with all concerned departments to ensure seamless simulation during an exercise held on Wednesday evening. The drill was executed without disrupting regular airport operations. “Similar drills are proposed to be conducted in the coming weeks,” the official added.