ALOR STAR: Sultan Abdul Halim Airport resumed operations today after being closed since Nov 29 due to severe flooding that had inundated its runway.
Manager Ikram Alif Mansoor confirmed that seven arrival and departure flights to and from Kuala Lumpur and Subang are now operating as scheduled, following the full receding of the floodwaters."
"Today, we have 14 flights — seven arrivals and seven departures. Everything is in good condition.
"The airport's 80 staff members have resumed normal operations, and no damage has been found on the runway or facilities," he said when met at the airport departure lobby.
He also said Batik Air, which was set to begin its first flight from the airport on Dec 5, successfully conducted its inaugural flight today.
"Batik Air was supposed to start on Dec 5 but had to defer due to the floods. Today, they operated their first flight, and everything went smoothly," he said.
Ikram added that routine inspections will be conducted to ensure the runway remains safe and operational, avoiding any disruptions.
"We are also closely monitoring updates from the Malaysia Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) due to the forecasted monsoon surge, expected to last until Dec 11. For now, operations are running smoothly," he added.
Last Friday, Malaysia Airports issued a travel advisory on the temporary runway closure following a civil aviation authority notice issued by the authorities.
On Saturday, Ikram noted that between 20 and 24 inbound and outbound flights had been cancelled during the week-long closure.
No major damage was identified on the 2.7km runway, which had been submerged under 50cm of water. The taxiway, meanwhile, was inundated with 80 cm of water.