As the Kochi international airport will remain closed for operation till August 26 morning due to torrential rains, national carrier Air India said the flight scheduled to fly from Cochin to Jeddah will operate from Trivandrum Airport. The shutdown of Kochi airport has also prompted authorities to divert many incoming and outgoing flights to Trivandrum or Kozhikode. 
 
Air India stated that “on August 16, our Kochi-Sharjah-Kochi and Kochi-Bahrain-Kochi will operate from/to Kozhikode. All other Kochi-bound flights will operate from/to Trivandrum,” For further assistance, flyers can contact Air India Express control room helpline at 0484 - 2610040, 2610050, the national carrier tweeted. 

#GoAlert
Due to runway flooding at the Kochi Airport, CIAL has temporarily suspended operations till 18th Aug 2018, 2PM. Customers are requested to call 18602100999 to reschedule their flights at no extra charge. Full refund will be made for cancellations up to 18th Aug 2018, 2PM

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Union Civil Aviation Ministry acceded to Kerala's request to utilise other airports in the state, instead of diverting the flights to Mumbai and other places. 

Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu tweeted, “We have asked all airlines, domestic and foreign, to reschedule their Cochin flights either from Trivandrum or from Calicut (Kozhikode). For international flights, this will require special dispensation which has been granted considering the emergency. DGCA is coordinating.” 

According to latest reports, the death toll in the monsoon fury in Kerala has crossed 167. Rise in flood waters in Periyar River due to the rains and opening of the shutters of all major dams including Mullaperiyar, Cheruthoni, part of Idukki reservoir and Idamalayar, have reportedly affected the lives of people in downstream areas.