Airport reopens today, no change in watch hours

Tribune News Service

Mohali, February 26

The airport would open for civil and military operations on Tuesday after the first 15-day closure period came to an end on Monday.

Airport officials said watch hours at the runway would remain as per the NOTAM (notice to airmen) issued since October 31 last year from 5 am to 4 pm till March 24, 2018 from Monday to Saturday. The airport would remain closed on Sundays. The first flight would arrive the airport at 6:55 am.

CHIAL PRO Deepesh Joshi said, “There is no change in watch hour timings till the end of the winter schedule. In the summer schedule that would come into effect from March 25, watch hours are likely to be changed from current to 7.20 am-5.30 pm, with the addition of some flights that were suspended in winter.”

An official of Jet Airways said two domestic flights, one departing to Delhi at 7.40 am and another Mumbai-bound flight at 3.30 pm, that had been suspended due to fog would start operations from Tuesday.

On February 12, in a meeting between all stakeholders, the contractor working on the runway had proposed that the next 15-day airport closure period be kept from May 14 to May 28. However, a final decision regarding the proposed dates is expected in the first week of March.

The closure, on account of runway repair, is expected to have affected over 60,000 passengers, with a majority of the air traffic in the northern region, diverted to New Delhi and Amritsar.

The airport was closed for runway repair and re-carpeting work, including extending the length from current 9,000 feet to 10,400 feet in order to accommodate wide-bodied aircrafts, which would facilitate long haul flights from Chandigarh.

Was closed for runway repair

The airport was closed for runway repair and re-carpeting work, including extending the length from current 9,000 feet to 10,400 feet in order to accommodate wide-bodied aircrafts, which would facilitate long haul flights from Chandigarh.