KOLKATA: Even as airport and airline officials said all 41 flights would operate as scheduled on Thursday, speculations were rife over the state government considering a ban on flight operations in Kolkata on lockdown days.
Though there was no confirmation forthcoming from the state secretariat, sources said the government could write to the civil aviation ministry on Wednesday to cancel all flights scheduled to and from Kolkata on Thursday, Saturday as well as next Wednesday to ensure total compliance to a complete lockdown.
Earlier in the evening, airport and airlines officials said airport operations would continue uninterrupted as it was an emergency service. The airport had functioned during the nationwide lockdown as well as state lockdowns like the one in Tamil Nadu. Bagdogra airport officials, too, said the facility would remain operational.
“All airlines have said they will maintain normal operations during the lockdown in Bengal on Thursday and Saturday. We have written to the state transport secretary to ensure adequate transport for passengers and hope arrangements will be made,” an airport official said.
