CIAL handled 322 arrival relief flights in three phases of Vande Bharat mission

Cochin International airport on Thursday said it handled 322 arrival relief flights during three phases of Vande Bharat Mission evacuating 55,293 passengers till June 30 during COVID-19 lockdown.

airport has a reason to smile amid grim situation as it received flights from countries which were intact in pre-pandemic years, a CIAL statement said. very first flight of Vande Bharat Mission in country had arrived at CIAL on May 7.

"Till June 30, airport received 322 repatriation flights (640 movements) which toger brought in 55,293 passengers. Air India and Air India Express carried out more than 100 relief operations," it said.

Besides repatriation flight operations carried out by Air India Express and Airlines like Qatar Airways, Kuwait Airways, Emirates, Etihad, Gulf Air, Jazeera, Saudia, Fly Dubai from GCC countries, Air India operated special flights from San Francisco and Chicago in US and Paris, London, Armenia and Moscow in Europe, Cebu in Philippines, Ho-Chi Minh City, Vietnam and Djibouti in Africa.

Apart from se British Airways and Swiss Air joined repatriation drive for transporting ir citizens from Kochi and Qatar Airways and Saudia operated special departed flights for transporting as many as 1500 medical professionals from Kerala to various hospitals in respective countries, statement said.

During this period CIAL hosted Air Peace from Nigeria, Air Malta from Republic of Malta, Somon air from Tajikistan, DAT Air from Denmark, Air Astana from Tajikistan, Iraq Airways from Iraq, Salam Air from Oman, Maldivian from Male, Ethiopian From Ethiopia, Onur Air from Moldova and Azur air from Ukraine, it said.

"Since May 25, when Ministry of Civil Aviation permitted calibrated operations in domestic sector, CIAL handled 822 arrival/departure operations. 38,112 domestic passengers arrived at airport and 30,033 departed," it added.

(Photo Credit: PTI)