 "Image via Shutterstock")
Passengers flying out of Mumbai are likely to see higher fares in October and November when all flights would be suspended for five hours twice a week to facilitate runway upgradation.
The lower capacity during that period, and the concomitant backlog, could result in pricier tickets for fliers. Flights during afternoon will be hit. Passenger loads in morning and evening flights may become costlier.
In a two-phase project starting April, Mumbai airport's twin runways will undergo a major upgrade to prevent degradation and strengthen their life.
Mumbai airport has two intersecting runways and work will be carried out for five hours every Monday and Thursday between October 17 and November 30. This will result in suspension of all flight operations during those hours.
Mumbai airport had originally proposed to carry out the work on six Mondays in April-May but decided to defer it, following objections from airlines which have to cancel and reschedule the flights during the runway closure.
Since airlines were not prepared to make changes in their summer schedule, the repair work was deferred.
However preventive maintenance of runway intersection will be carried out for three hours post-midnight on May 15 and 16 to ensure availability of runways during monsoon.
Mumbai International Airport Limited did not respond to an email query sent by this newspaper.
The upgrade work on other portions of the two runways will be carried out in April-May and again in October-November. One of the two runways will always be available for operations during this period.
Mumbai airport handles about 850 flights daily. Re-carpeting and upgrade of the secondary runway (14/32) was carried last carried out in 2009-10 and re-carpeting of main runway (09/27) was carried out in 2010-11.
A thin layer of polymer modified asphalt emulsion will be applied to the runway surface to strengthen it.
“The purpose of re-carpeting of runways is to protect and preserve the existing runway surface from oxidation, loss of asphalt flexibility and binding capabilities due to exposure to sun, air, rain and jet blast. These works will ensure the safety requirement and enhancement of friction and durability,” MIAL said in a circular to airlines last week.
Currently, the pavement at the intersection of the runways has completed 83% of its proposed life while the main runway pavement has completed over 70% of its life, MIAL said in the circular. The deterioration rate of runways is accelerated due to continuous operation and rubber deposits and rectification works are necessary to ensure safety of operations.
