Mangalore : Airports Authority of India (AAI) has proposed to cancel the night flights at Mangalore International Airport for six months from November due to the runway-end safety area works.

The runway-end safety area works will include new concrete runway and constructing additional taxiways that connect runways with the aircraft parking area.

Airport Director of the airport J.T. Radhakrishna said that, airport authority had written to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) urging to close down aircraft operations from 11.30 pm to 7.30 am from November 1 and is waiting for the reply.

He said that now the runway-end safety area on one side of the runway (towards Bajpe) was not even. The DGCA had even urged AAI to make run way flat so that aircraft stand there itself in case of overshooting the runway. Around two-per cent slope will have to be made even, to zero per cent, he added.

Radhakrishna said that earthworks for constructing additional taxiways have been commenced and to complete the work soon the authority must closed down night flights for six months as works would have to be carried out during night since during day time aircraft operations will take place.

Further he said that Air India Express would be rescheduled its arrival time from Dammam from 3.20 am now to 7.30 am While Air India Express flight from Dubai arrived at 4.45 am and left at 8 pm at present but during winter, it would arrive at 7.45 am and leave at 11.15 pm, he added.