Kozhikode International Airport Explained

Kozhikode International Airport
Calicut International Airport
Image2-Width:250
Iata:CCJ
Icao:VOCL
Type:Public
Owner-Oper:Airport Authority of India
City-Served:Kozhikode
Location:Karipur, Kondotty, Malappuram district, Kerala, India
Metric-Elev:yes
Elevation-F:342
Elevation-M:104
Coordinates:11.1361°N 75.955°W
Pushpin Map:India Kerala#India#Asia
Pushpin Label:CCJ/VOCL
Metric-Rwy:yes
R1-Number:10/28
R1-Length-F:9,383
R1-Length-M:2,860
R1-Surface:Asphalt
Stat-Year:April 2023 - March 2024
Stat1-Header:Passengers
Stat1-Data:3,320,250 (11.3%)
Stat2-Header:Aircraft movements
Stat2-Data:24,418 (5.5%)
Stat3-Header:Cargo tonnage
Stat3-Data:18,264 (25.8%)
Footnotes:Source: AAI[1] [2] [3]

Kozhikode International Airport, also known as Calicut International Airport (locally referred to as Karipur Airport), is an international airport serving the city of Kozhikode in the state of Kerala, India. It is located at Karipur near Kondotty in the Malappuram district of the South Malabar region. It serves the Malabar region, consisting of Kozhikode, Malappuram, Wayanad and Palakkad. It is situated away from Kozhikode and away from Malappuram. It serves two of the seven metropolitan areas in the state—Kozhikode metropolitan area and Malappuram metropolitan area.The airport opened on 13 April 1988,[4] [5] and serves as an operating base for Air India Express and operates Hajj Pilgrimage services to Medina and Jeddah from Kerala. It is tied with Hyderabad in terms of international traffic. It received the international airport status on 2 February 2006.[6] [7] It is one of the few airports in the country with a tabletop runway.

History

Early years

The airport was inaugurated on 13 April 1988.[8] In 1977, the airport was sanctioned due to long periods of struggle under the leadership of the late freedom fighter, K. P. Kesava Menon. In the 1990s, Gulf Malayalis played an important role in the development of the airport - they collected funds for the purpose when the Union Government claimed it did not have any. This led to the inception of the Malabar International Airport Development Society, which helped raise funds for the airport's development. Consequently, major developments of facilities, such as an extension of the runway from 6,000 feet to 9,000 feet to facilitate the operation of large aircraft, were carried out with loans from the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO).It received the status of an international airport on 2 February 2006, which led to more development in its infrastructure, for handling the operation of international flights from its terminal. It is the 12th-busiest airport in India in terms of its passenger traffic and 11th-busiest in cargo handling.

Wide-body aircraft restrictions

Since 1 May 2015, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) imposed restrictions on the operation of wide-body aircraft such as Boeing 777 and 747 for a period of six months for runway recarpeting, which had been long overdue at this airport. As a result, Emirates, Saudia and two Air India Boeing 747 flight operations had to move temporarily to Cochin International Airport during this time.[9] The airport authorities had expressed doubt about getting permission to operate wide-bodied aircraft from the airport, even after the completion of the recarpeting, for the runway in the airport is not large enough for the operation of jumbo aircraft. AAI had earlier instructed that all airports using widebody aircraft must have 240 m of Runway End Safety Area (RESA) in each direction, whereas that of Calicut Airport must have 90 m.[10] The airport director K Janardhanan said the short runway was a major hurdle in operating wide-bodied aircraft from the tabletop runway and the runway length should be extended from the current 2,850 m to 3,150 m to operate wide-bodied aircraft, he added. The major hurdle in extending the runway is the delay in acquiring the land which requires a total of 385acres of land for extending the runway and associated facilities. The state government has been finding the task difficult, for it requires relocation of 1,500 families living around the airport.[11] As of 10 June 2016, not much action has been taken for land acquisition to help increase the runway length.[12] The AAI decided to get a runway safety area to avoid the aircraft overrunning the end of the table-top runway. On 7 August 2020, wide-body aircraft have been banned from flying to CCJ after the crash of IX 1344, which overran the table-top runway.[13] As of November 2020, the airport does not have the recommended Runway safety area or Engineered Materials Arresting System installed. The land acquisition procedures for runway development are progressing as of July 2022.[13]

Reinstatement of wide-body aircraft operations

As advocated by various Malayali associations like KMCC, MCC and MDF and others, Gulf Malayalis, political parties, Kerala State Government and MPs from Malabar region, on 9 August 2018, DGCA gave approval for resuming wide-body aircraft (Code E category) operations from Calicut International Airport.[14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] In the beginning, Saudia has been given permission to start nonstop flights to Jeddah and Riyadh using Boeing 777-200LR and Airbus A330-300. After three and a half years, the wide-body aircraft (Airbus 330-300) of Saudi Arabian Airlines from Jeddah landed at Calicut International Airport at 11:04 (IST) on 5 December 2018.[21] [22] [23] It flew back to Jeddah on the same day at 13:19 (IST).[24] [25] [23] Saudia has also resumed its services to Riyadh from Calicut in December 2018.[26] On 5 July 2019, Saudi Arabian Airlines flew with the Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A330-300 to CCJ. DGCA gave approval for wide-body aircraft operations of Air India from Calicut International Airport using Boeing 747-400, Boeing 777-200LR, Boeing 777-300ER, and Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.[27] [28] Emirates also secured approval from DGCA to operate Boeing 777-200LR and 777-300ER from Calicut.

On 7 August 2020, Air India Express Flight 1344, a COVID-19 repatriation flight on the Dubai-Kozhikode route, overran the tabletop runway upon landing in bad weather and crashed into the runway slope, killing 21 passengers. As a result, wide-body aircraft are no longer permitted to fly to Kozhikode Airport, and as of 7 July 2022, runway renovation is in progress.

Airlines and destinations

Cargo

The following cargo airlines fly to the airport:

Connectivity

RoadKozhikode International Airport is located between two National Highways. The closest one is National Highway 966 (NH-966) situated at a distance of 2.3 kilometres and the other one being National Highway 66 (NH-66) which is around 8 kilometres from the airport. NH-966 joins NH-66 at Ramanattukara, located 12 kilometres from the airport. This combined road network enables seamless connectivity to the north to Kozhikode, Kannur, and Wayanad, and towards the south to Malappuram, Kondotty, Palakkad, Thrissur, and Coimbatore.
Buses Kerala State Road Transport Corporation operates FlyBus (low-floor AC bus) services to the city of Kozhikode from the airport.[29] This is one of the cheapest available options to travel to the city. There are only a handful of these services so travellers looking for cheap options to travel can take an Auto-rickshaw to Airport Junction - kondotty (2.8 km away) where buses are available to Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad etc.
RailThe closest railway stations are Feroke railway station (around 18 kilometres from the airport), Parappanangadi railway station (around 20 kilometres from the airport), Tanur railway station (around 28 kilometres from the airport), Kozhikode railway station (around 28 kilometres from the airport), Tirur railway station (around 34 kilometres away), and Angadipuram railway station (around 37 kilometres away), which are connected to all major cities in India.
TaxisPre-paid taxi services are available at the airport.[30] The airport is also serviced by Uber and Ola Cabs, online cab aggregators providing various options to Calicut city and for Outstation journeys.

Accidents and incidents

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Annexure III – Passenger Data. aai.aero. 21 April 2024.
  2. Web site: Annexure II – Aircraft Movement Data. aai.aero. 21 April 2024.
  3. Web site: Annexure IV – Freight Movement Data. aai.aero. 21 April 2024.
  4. News: Calicut airport turns 30 . The Hindu . 12 April 2018 . www.thehindu.com.
  5. Web site: About Calicut Airport . 19 May 2020 . 4 May 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200504143011/http://www.aera.gov.in/content/airports/calicut-airport.php . dead .
  6. Web site: Calicut Airport . Iloveindia.com . 12 March 2017.
  7. Web site: Archive . Calicut airport given international status . https://web.archive.org/web/20060911010922/http://www.hindu.com/2006/02/02/stories/2006020206940600.htm . dead . 11 September 2006 . . 2 February 2006 . 12 March 2017.
  8. News: Silver jubilee does not bring cheer to Karipur airport users . The Times of India . 2 April 2012.
  9. Web site: Airlines pull out of Calicut International Airport . Business Traveller . 22 March 2019.
  10. News: No end to woes of Calicut airport . 29 June 2018 . The Hindu . 22 March 2019 . 0971-751X.
  11. Web site: Wide-body aircraft operations to and from Gulf to stop at Calicut - Khaleej Times . Devasia . T K . www.khaleejtimes.com . 12 June 2016 . 29 November 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151129180041/http://www.khaleejtimes.com/article/20150501/ARTICLE/305019964/1028 . dead .
  12. News: Plea to acquire land for airport . 10 June 2016 . The Hindu . 0971-751X . 12 June 2016.
  13. News: 7 July 2022 . Karipur airport: land acquisition procedures for runway development progressing . en-IN . The Hindu . 7 July 2022 . 0971-751X.
  14. News: Finally, DGCA gives nod for operation of wide-bodied aircraft at Calicut airport. 10 August 2018. The Hindu. 10 August 2018. 0971-751X.
  15. News: Green signal for jumbo aircraft. 10 August 2018. The Hindu. 10 August 2018. 0971-751X.
  16. News: Operation of wide-body aircraft from Calicut to commence soon: Suresh Prabhu. 9 August 2018. The Economic Times. 10 August 2018.
  17. News: MP On 'save Calicut airport' mission. Staff Reporter. 12 July 2018. The Hindu. 10 August 2018. 0971-751X.
  18. News: Forum alleges conspiracy to downgrade Calicut airport. 5 July 2018. The Hindu. 10 August 2018. 0971-751X.
  19. News: Calicut airport expansion: AAI chief to meet CM. 24 July 2018. The Hindu. 10 August 2018. 0971-751X.
  20. News: Calicut airport to see operation of wide-bodied aircraft: Centre. The New Indian Express. 10 August 2018.
  21. Web site: Saudia (SV) #746 ✈ 05-Dec-2018 ✈ JED / OEJN - CCJ / VOCL ✈ FlightAware. FlightAware. 5 December 2018.
  22. News: Big birds back in Karipur. Staff Reporter. 5 December 2018. The Hindu. 5 December 2018. 0971-751X.
  23. News: Big aircraft to return to Calicut from 5 December. The Hindu. 19 November 2018. 19 November 2018.
  24. Web site: Saudia (SV) #747 ✈ 05-Dec-2018 ✈ CCJ / VOCL - JED / OEJN ✈ FlightAware. FlightAware . 5 December 2018.
  25. Web site: Large plane lands at Calicut airport after three years . OnManorama . 5 December 2018.
  26. Web site: SAUDIA Press releases. www.saudia.com. 5 December 2018.
  27. News: DGCA approves operation of big aircraft from Calicut. The Hindu. 6 July 2019. 6 July 2019.
  28. News: Air India, Emirates get DGCA nod to resume jumbo flight operations from Karipur Airport . The Times of India . 5 July 2019 . 6 July 2019.
  29. News: Fly Bus services launched. Staff Reporter. 4 July 2018. The Hindu. 14 July 2018. 0971-751X.
  30. Web site: Kozhikode Calicut International Airport – Taxi options . www.kozhikodeairport.com . 14 July 2018.
  31. Web site: ഡെസ്ക് . വെബ് . 8 August 2020 . 1969ലും വിമാനം തകർന്നു; ചേളാരി 'വിമാനത്താവളത്തിൽ'... Madhyamam . www.madhyamam.com . ml . 19 August 2024.
  32. Web site: VT-DTH Accident Description . Aviation Safety Network . 23 January 2011.
  33. News: Narrow escape for AI passengers . 8 July 2022 . The Hindu . 8 November 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081110115759/http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/08/stories/2008110855721300.htm . 10 November 2008.
  34. Jolly . Asit . 30 November 2012. On a Wing and a Prayer . . 8 July 2022.
  35. News: Varghese . Johnlee . Kozhikode Airport Shooting: CISF Jawan Killed, Two Airport Staff Injured . 8 July 2022 . IB Times . 11 June 2015.
  36. News: Engine failure: Narrow escape for 186 Air India flyers . 8 July 2022 . The Times of India . 25 April 2017.
  37. News: 7 August 2020. Air India jet breaks in two on Kerala runway. 7 August 2020. BBC News.
  38. News: Sharma. Ashok. Schmall. Emily. 20 April 2021. Plane skids off runway in India; 17 killed, including pilots. Associated Press. 7 August 2020.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Kozhikode International Airport".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.