Kannur Airport: When Will It Take Off?

when will kannur airport be ready

Kannur International Airport (IATA: CNN, ICAO: VOKN) opened for commercial operations on December 9, 2018. The airport, located 20 km from Kannur city, is owned and operated by Kannur International Airport Limited (KIAL), a public-private consortium. The airport has state-of-the-art facilities and is expected to support safe, efficient, and cost-effective travel for foreign tourists, non-resident Keralites, and domestic travellers to north Kerala and southern parts of Karnataka. The airport has received several honours, including the ACI World's Best Airport Award 2024, and has seen stable growth amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in India, achieving two million passengers in November 2020.

Characteristics Values
Location 20 km from Kannur city, 28 km from Kannur, 24 km from Thalassery
Cost ₹2,292-crore
Runway length 4,000 m
Expected opening date August or September 2018
Actual opening date 9 December 2018
Location code KNR, CNN (IATA), VOKN (ICAO)
Ownership Kannur International Airport Limited (KIAL)
Management Air India Air Transport Services Ltd. (AI-ATSL)
Security Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)
Immigration Kerala Police
Maintenance AI-ATSL, BPCL-KIAL Fuel Farm Private Ltd.
Military presence Indian Air Force, Indian Coast Guard

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Kannur International Airport opened for commercial operations on 9 December 2018

The airport has a 4,000-metre runway, the longest in south India, able to accommodate large wide-bodied aircraft. The runway has a full-length parallel taxiway, and its apron allows 20 wide-bodied aircraft to park simultaneously. The airport also has a cargo terminal complex with an 8-floor space of 32,000 square metres.

The Indian Air Force has a presence at the airport, with a separate enclave set up on ten acres of land. The airport is also home to a large maintenance terminal dedicated to aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facilities. The MRO facility is expected to cater to both narrow and wide-bodied aircraft.

The construction of Kannur International Airport faced several challenges, including the scarcity of land in the state and the emotional attachment of the local population to their land. However, the ruling and opposition parties came together in support of the airport, recognising its potential benefits to the region. The airport is expected to cater to the travelling needs of a large NRI population in the region, as well as domestic and international tourists.

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The airport is owned and operated by Kannur International Airport Limited (KIAL)

Kannur International Airport is owned and operated by Kannur International Airport Limited (KIAL), a public-private consortium. The airport is located in Mattanur, 28 km (17 mi) east of Kannur and 24 km (15 mi) east of Thalassery. It is the fourth international airport in Kerala, and it opened for commercial operations on 9 December 2018.

KIAL is an unlisted public company promoted by the Government of Kerala, with the aim of building and operating the airport to international standards. The airport was constructed to serve the travelling needs of the large NRI population in the region, the flourishing business community, and tourists. The area is a popular tourist destination, attracting both domestic and international visitors.

The airport has a 4,000-metre runway, the longest in south India, which can accommodate large wide-bodied aircraft. It features an integrated terminal building that meets the standards of the ICAO, DGCA, and AAI. The ATC tower is equipped with advanced technology, including Doppler variable omni-range and distance-measuring equipment.

KIAL has also established a joint venture with BPCL for a fuel farm, providing aviation fuel for aircraft operating from the airport. In addition, KIAL has partnered with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) by providing 80 acres of land for a complex that will include helicopter manufacturing, maintenance, repair, and a pilot training centre.

The airport has received accolades, including the ACI World's Best Airport Award 2024, and has experienced stable growth despite the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching two million passengers in November 2020.

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It is located in Mattanur, 28 km (17 mi) east of Kannur

Kannur International Airport is located in Mattanur, 28 kilometres (17 miles) east of Kannur and 24 kilometres (15 miles) east of Thalassery. The airport falls under the jurisdiction of the Mattanur Airport Police Station, under the Kannur City Police, which was established on 12 August 2018. The airport is 20 kilometres from Kannur City and is very close to the Kannur-Mattannur-Mysuru highway. It is the fourth international airport in the state of Kerala, which has a coastline of 580 kilometres.

The airport is owned and operated by Kannur International Airport Limited (KIAL), a public-private consortium. The airport cost ₹2,292 crore to build and will be the biggest in Kerala in terms of land area. The airport's construction was a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiative, built on a Build-Own-Operate (BOO) basis. The airport opened for commercial operations on 9 December 2018, and served one million passengers in its first nine months. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the airport achieved stable growth, reaching two million passengers in November 2020, its twenty-third month of operations.

The airport has an integrated terminal building that meets the certifying standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and Airports Authority of India (AAI). The DGCA is responsible for the airport's air navigation services and air traffic control. The airport's 4,000-metre runway is the longest in south India and can accommodate large, wide-bodied aircraft. The runway has a full-length parallel taxiway, and its apron allows 20 wide-bodied aircraft to park simultaneously.

The Indian Air Force has a presence at the airport, with a separate enclave set up on ten acres of land. The airport also has a 28,000-square-metre fuel farm constructed and operated by a joint venture between KIAL and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL). The airport's ground handling is managed by Air India Air Transport Services Ltd. (AI-ATSL).

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The airport has state-of-the-art facilities and efficient security

Kannur International Airport (IATA: CNN, ICAO: VOKN) is an airport serving the city of Kannur, the Mahé district of Puducherry, and the rest of northern Kerala in India. The airport is located in Mattanur, 28 km (17 mi) east of Kannur and 24 km (15 mi) east of Thalassery. It is owned and operated by Kannur International Airport Limited (KIAL), a public-private consortium.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has sanctioned 630 posts to take care of the security needs of the airport, and the Kerala Police will also assist with immigration. The National Informatics Centre (NIC) has provided the hardware for the immigration services, and Customs has already notified the airport and posted 78 personnel. The airport has a 28,000-square-metre fuel farm constructed and operated by a joint venture company floated by KIAL and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL). The Rs. 17-crore fuel farm has underground tanks for aviation fuel storage and will provide fuel for aircraft operating from the airport.

The airport has a range of modern facilities to support safe, efficient, and cost-effective travel for foreign tourists, non-resident Keralites, and domestic travellers to north Kerala and southern parts of Karnataka. The Common User Passenger Processing System (CUPPS) at the 24 check-in counters is ready, and two US-made Inline X-ray machines will avoid baggage screening before check-in. Orders have also been placed for two self-check-in counters for domestic flyers, and a Self-Baggage Drop will be installed in the terminal building with an automatic tagging facility. A pre-paid taxi service is available at the airport round the clock.

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Kannur Airport has received awards and recognition for its services

Kannur International Airport has received awards and recognition for its services. The airport, which opened for commercial operations in December 2018, achieved remarkable growth amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in India, reaching two million passengers in just 23 months of operations by November 2020.

In 2024, Kannur International Airport was recognised by the ASQ Awards, a leading airport passenger satisfaction program, as one of the world's best airports in the Asia-Pacific region. This award is a testament to the airport's excellence in customer experience, with a 20% overall satisfaction score by size and region at departure.

Kannur Airport has also been honoured with the prestigious ACI World's Best Airport Award in 2024, further solidifying its reputation as one of the finest airports in the world.

The airport's sustainability initiatives have not gone unnoticed. With its passenger terminal building featuring a double-skin aluminium roofing system and energy-efficient LED lighting, Kannur Airport leads the way in environmentally conscious practices.

Additionally, Kannur International Airport has been recognised for its strategic location and proximity to the coast, with the Indian Air Force and Indian Coast Guard establishing a presence at the airport to enhance air surveillance capabilities. The airport's vast land extent and state-of-the-art facilities, including a dedicated maintenance, repair, and overhaul unit, cater to both domestic and international tourists, reinforcing its status as a prominent aviation hub in the region.

Frequently asked questions

Kannur International Airport opened for commercial operations on 9 December 2018.

Kannur Airport is the fourth international airport in Kerala, India, and is the first international airport in a non-metro city. The airport is expected to benefit the local economy and provide hundreds of employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.

Kannur Airport is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including a 4,000-metre runway, the longest in south India, capable of accommodating large wide-bodied aircraft. The airport also features a fuel farm, aircraft maintenance and repair facilities, and a pre-paid taxi service.

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