Kolkata airport has announced fresh dates in August when it will suspend operations due to the state of West Bengal going into a complete lockdown mode to break the chain of coronavirus infection, according to an official tweet by the airport authority on Tuesday.
“As per the State Govt. order dated 03.08.2020, flight operations at #KolkataAirport will remain suspended on the revised lockdown days: 5th, 8th, 20th, 21st, 27th, 28th and 31st August 2020,” the Kolkata airport tweeted on Tuesday.
State government on Monday revised for the fourth time, the set of dates- August 5, 8, 20, 21, 27, 28 and 31– for implementation of complete lockdown to contain coronavirus disease. Earlier the dates were August 5, 8, 16, 17, 23, 24 and 31.
The suspension of operations at Kolkata airport will impact several domestic flights that are already under stress due to curtailed domestic operations since resumption of flights on May 25 after two months of complete suspension due to nationwide lockdown in late March. The aviation minister had yesterday suggested that the situation was continuously improving.
“Domestic operations continue to soar. 3rd August 2020, Day 72 till 23:59 hrs. Departures were 849. 78,155 passengers handled. Arrivals were 846. 77,558 passengers handled. Total movements were 1695. Footfalls at airports were 1,55,713. Total number of flyers was 78,155,” he tweeted.