Kolkata Airport to Suspend Flight Operations For 21 Hours Because of Storm

Because of Cyclone Remal, authorities at Kolkata Airport have decided to suspend airport flight operations for 21 hours. From 12:00 on May 26 to 09:00 on May 27, the airport will be closed for scheduled operations. This suspension has been implemented as a precautionary measure. Heavy winds and extremely heavy rainfall are predicted in the region.

The regions that will be affected by the cyclonic storm include West Bengal, Coastal Bangladesh, Tripura, and other northeastern states. In addition to the airport, the Port at Kolkata has also announced the suspension of all freighter and container handling operations for 12 hours starting from 18:00 on Sunday to 06:00 on Monday.

Airlines Issue Advisory

Because of this precautionary shutdown, Indian air carriers have issued advisories to passengers notifying them about the cancellation. IndiGo in its advisory has provided options to passengers for either booking an alternate flight or claiming a full refund.

The IndiGo advisory said: A cyclone warning remains in force in #Kolkata. The airport will remain closed and all flights to/from Kolkata are canceled from May 26, 1200 Hrs to May 27, 0900 hrs. To explore alternate flight options or claim a full refund, visit https://bit.ly/3MxSLeE

Similar to IndiGo, SpiceJet has also provided passengers with options to switch to an alternate flight or claim a full refund. The airline said:

#TravelUpdate: Due to the cyclone REMAL’s impact, operations at Kolkata (CCU) are suspended. All flight operations to/from Kolkata (CCU) have been canceled from 1200 hours dated 26th May’24 to 0900 hours dated 27th May’24. Passengers are requested to get in touch with our 24/7 customer care helpline at +91 (0)124 4983410/+91 (0)124 7101600 or refer to http://changes.spicejet.com for assistance with an alternate flight or a full refund.

Air India has asked passengers to check its website for further updates. Kolkata Airport handles around 400 flights on a daily basis. In financial year 2023-24, the airport handled around 20 million passengers.

Two Employees Injured After Lightning Strike

On May 20, the weather at Kolkata Airport was bad. Two employees of a cargo handling agency were working at service bay number 15. At that time, a bolt of lightning struck injuring both of them. One employee sustained a head injury, while the other one was repeatedly vomiting.

They were referred to a private hospital, where they were admitted. After this incident, the airport authorities have asked the supervisors of the agency to make sure that employees do not work in the open during lightning or thunderstorms.

Senior Police Officer of Biddhanagar Commissioner Airport Division confirmed that both injured were undergoing treatment at the hospital. Police too spoke with the cargo agency and asked them to ensure no outside movement during bad weather.

Are you traveling to or from Kolkata Airport on this date? If yes, how are you augmenting your plans? Feel free to discuss in the comment section.