Sunday, May 26, 2024 Kolkata Airport will be closed for 21 hours starting noon today due to Cyclone Remal , impacting several international flights including Emirates and Etihad. In response to the severe weather forecast associated with Cyclone Remal, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport will suspend all flight operations for 21 hours starting at noon today. This preemptive closure is a safety measure to protect passengers, staff, and equipment from heavy winds and expected heavy to very heavy rainfall.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an alert as a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal intensifies, poised to become the season’s first pre-monsoon cyclone, named ‘Remal.’ Expected to make landfall by midnight on Sunday, May 26, between Sagar Island in West Bengal and Khepupara in Bangladesh, Remal could bring wind speeds of 110-120 kilometers per hour, with gusts up to 135 kilometers per hour. Currently 420 kilometers south of Khepupara and moving north at 11 kilometers per hour, the storm is forecasted to strengthen into a severe cyclonic storm by early Sunday.
Heavy rains are anticipated along the coastal regions of West Bengal and northern Odisha on May 26-27, with significant rainfall also expected in parts of northeast India over the following days. Impact on Airline Operations The suspension affects numerous airlines with incoming and outgoing flights, potentially causing cancellations, delays, or diversions. Notably impacted are .