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Dubai: The Cochin International Airport finally resumed operations at 12.30pm (UAE time) today.

Some 33 flights to various destinations are scheduled to land at the Cochin International Airport on Wednesday while 30 flights are scheduled to leave.

Civil aircraft operations from the Kochi Naval Air Station, which started as an alternate arrangement also ends on Wednesday.  

Two flights from Dubai and one each from Sharjah and Abu Dhabi are landing at Kochi today. 

For more information on flight timings, click here.

Latest videos and pictures on the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL)'s official Facebook page show the first flight landing after the airport reopened after being closed for 15 days after being affected by floods in the South Indian state of Kerala.

In a Facebook post, the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) announced yesterday: “The long wait ends here. All tests are done. The clouds of apprehensions are fading away... Well stabilised... It is now mighty enough to handle the huge metal birds. Now, only hours left before us; to hear their chirps. Let the engines rev up, let the hopes raise up... The long wait is about to end. We are resuming full-scale operations at 2PM (Indian Standard Time) on 29-08-18. See you all there...”

They also shared a picture of the ‘new look’ of the airport’s runway, along with the post.

On August 15, Cochin International Airport shut down after water released from the Idukki dam flooded the area. Initially, the airport operations were closed only for four days, till August 18. However, as the floods got progressively worse, the airport became submerged. It was then announced that the airport would resume operations only on August 29.


To deal with the closure, on August 19, the Naval Air Station at Kochi was opened for commercial use.

@delhidefence tweeted: “Ministry of Defence and Indian Navy @indiannavy has given clearance for use of INS Garuda (Naval Air Station) at Kochi for commercial use, in view of flooding at Cochin International Airport.”


The floods and closure of the airport had also affected UAE expatriates from the South Indian state as it disrupted their travel plans for Eid Al Adha and Onam celebrations. Those UAE expats who were already in Kerala before the floods began, faced delays in their return trips.

The Indian community in the UAE sought the Indian Embassy’s help for schoolchildren in the UAE, who were victims of floods in Kerala. They also sought the embassy’s help for the flood victims who may have lost their passports and UAE visas.

The opening of the airport came as a huge relief to many. Keralites took to Facebook and other social media channels to share the news. They also applauded the quick efforts of the airport authority.

Facebook user Rajesh Rajan wrote: “It’s such a great news, proud of the team that has handled such a big crisis so well!”

And Pradeep Tp added: “Congrats to the entire team. CIAL deserves a BIG applause. Incredible team work. Set an example as a first step that Kerala can be back on its feet in no time, hats off!”

Some suggested that the airport should be better prepared in case of similar emergencies in the future.

Pavin Krishna posted on Facebook: “Congrats to the whole team. I hope we will be planning something... to avoid and to protect the airport from this kind of calamity in the future.”