Airlines divert, cancel flights to Chennai on cyclone Vardah warnings

Cyclone ‘Vardah’ which is estimated to make a landfall between north Tamil Nadu and south Andra Pradesh soon has caused airlines to divert flights landing in Chennai to other airports on Monday.

Budget carrier, Spicejet said cancelled all flights to and from Chennai until 6 pm today. 

Due to cyclone VARDAH in Chennai (MAA), all flights to/from Chennai stand cancelled until 1800 hrs today. (1/2)

— SpiceJet (@flyspicejet) December 12, 2016

All passengers are requested to cross check their flight status before leaving for the airport. (2/2)

— SpiceJet (@flyspicejet) December 12, 2016

Jet Airways cancelled all Chennai bound flights until 3 pm while Air India said they have diverted four flights landing in Chennai to other airports.

#TravelUpdate: Due to adverse weather (#Vardah) at #Chennai, all our arrivals & departures to & from Chennai stand cancelled until 1500 hrs.

— Jet Airways (@jetairways) December 12, 2016

#AIUpdate: Due to cyclonic weather over Chennai, flts to/from that region are affected. Please call customer care 044 22562141

— Air India (@airindiain) December 12, 2016

Even Indigo later on tweeted that flights to and from Chennai are affected on account of bad weather.

Our flights to & fro Chennai are affected due to bad weather. You can Tweet, message us on FB, chat https://t.co/i0GJBRK0n9 for assistance.

— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) December 12, 2016

The Regional Meteorological Centre said Vardah lay centred at 330 kilometres east of Chennai at 1430 hours on Sunday and would move westwards before making the landfall.

Heavy to very heavy rains are estimated in some places in these districts.

Under its impact, rains will start tonight and gradually increase tomorrow in the northern districts of Chennai, a report by First Post said.