The Indian Navy on Friday announced it had opened the INS Garuda naval air station at Cochin for civilian flights after the Cochin International Airport suspended operations due to flooding on its tarmac.
Captain D.K. Sharma, the Indian Navy's spokesperson, announced the decision to open INS Garuda to civilian flights. However, carriers are yet to announce plans to fly to the naval air station.
The Cochin International Airport suspended operations on Thursday night following heavy rain. By Friday morning, Cochin International Airport announced operations had been suspended until 3pm on Sunday. According to sources, officials will inspect the airport premises by 2.30pm on Sunday and take a decision on resuming flights.
During the extensive floods of 2018, Cochin International Airport was closed for two weeks due to heavy flooding on the runway and terminals.
At that time also, INS Garuda was opened for civilian flights and relief and rescue missions. As it is a smaller facility, INS Garuda typically operates lighter, shorter-range aircraft.
