Srinagar, Aug 25: A cursory look at ‘airport closures’ in Google reflects a host of news reports suggesting closure of airports on account of runway repairs. But there is hardly a link which says the repair work caused complete closure of the aerodromes and ensured the complete flight blackout. If there is a link to indicate that an airport would remain completely closed for days together, it is about the Srinagar ‘International’ Airport.
In October 2009, the Delhi-based prominent daily, Times of India, reported the closure of Mumbai airport, saying it is closing for just 6 hours on every Tuesday. “The airport will witness complete closure for six hours as the intersection between two cross-runways will be shut for the next 22 Tuesdays from 12 noon to 6pm for repair and reconstruction work. This would not only mean that flight operations would be suspended during that time, but departing and arriving flights prior to the closure will have to stick strictly to schedule in order to avoid major delays or diversions to other airports,” the paper reported on October 27, 2009.
 Earlier in March 2008, Gulftimes reported the closure of Thiruvananthapuram International Airport for 8 hours every day. “Flight operations at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport will be severely affected with authorities deciding to close the runway for eight hours every day for extension work. The airport launched a massive expansion project last week to build a new international terminal with world-class facilities. The runway is being closed to connect it to the taxi bay attached to the new terminal,” it reported in its edition of March 4, 2008.
 Presently New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport is being repaired, but the traffic movement is on from other runways. “The main runway at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), 10/28, will remain closed for maintenance and repairs from April 2 to September 28, by when it will be fully operational again, well in time for the Commonwealth Games that Delhi will host in October,” reported Delhi-based newspapers on March 17, 2010. “During this period, air traffic movement will be managed by the simultaneous use of runways 27 and 29. The repairs on runway 28 will be carried out in a phased manner so as to ensure that there is minimum inconvenience caused for taxiing aircraft.”
 Recently, the Mumbai-based daily, Daily News and Analysis, reported that the Mumbai airport runway would be closed for a few hours daily. “Passenger inconvenience is likely to be the norm this winter as the main runway at the Mumbai international airport is expected to be closed for a few hours every day for repair. The airport operates two runways, but needs to upgrade and re-carpet the main runway 0927,” it reported on Wednesday, Jul 14, 2010.
 According to experts, it is only in ‘extreme situations’ that the aerodromes can be closed completely. “It is like blocking the artery of a person. In Europe such a thing happens only during extreme hostile weather conditions. But yet they have the alternate routes to fly,” said an official at the Srinagar airport. “You just can’t do it, keeping in view the students, businessmen or patients who have to fly to and from Srinagar daily. It is criminal if you deny them the right to travel by air. If you have to close down the airport, you must first think of alternate options.”
 He said the IAF can easily do the repair work on alternate days. “There are so many options that can be explored. But in any case, flight blackout is not the option,” he said.

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