Chennai, May 11 (UNI) A total of 126 domestic flights, both to and from

Chennai Airport, were cancelled due to poor patronage in view of the

lockdown to prevent the spread of the second wave of COVID pandemic.

Airport sources said the airport terminals wore a deserted look as there

are only a very few passengers.

Though a number of flights have been cancelled during the last few days

due to lack of passengers, it touched a new high on Tuesday as only 78

domestic flights were operated with a total of 3,700 passengers.

This included 38 departures with 2,400 passengers and 40 arrivals with

1,300 passengers, the sources said.

Airport officials said though domestic flight services, which were suspended

in March last year due to the first corona pandemic and lockdown, resumed

in May last year, this was for the first time today the airport saw a very less

passenger patronage.

Of the 126 flights cancelled, 64 were incoming flights and 62 were outgoing

flights.

At the Anna international airport, only eight international flights–two under

Vande Bharat mission and six special flights, arrived.

Of this, the Air India flight from Chicago in US to Chennai via Delhi, had only

eight passengers.

Airport officials attribute this poor passenger patronage to the lockdown

restrictions and the people strictly following it and deferred their air travel.

However, once the virus spread is brought under control and the lockdown

relaxations are announced, the airport will be back to its usual business, with

increase in flight operations and passenger patronage.(UNI)